Introduction to GIS Geography Matters

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Introduction to GISGeography Matters!

• January 10, 2010

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Geography and Technology

• Geography affects us in many ways
• Our natural environment
• Our human environment
• Geography has become a high tech discipline
• Earth Observation - Remote Sensing
• Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

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Earth Observation
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Earth Observation
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Global Positioning Systems

• GPS is a revolutionary navigation system
• 24 satellites orbiting the earth
• Provide location within metres or less anywhere
  on the globe.
• Now available in many cars and cell phones

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What is a GIS?
(Geographic Information System)

• A Method of Organizing Data
• Geographic Data (Maps)
• Descriptive Data (Databases)
• Images
• A Method of Distributing Data
• A Method of Analyzing Data
• A Method of Visualizing Data

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GIS Describing Our World

• We can describe any element of our world in two
  ways

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GIS - Links Datasets

• GIS software links the location data and the
  attribute data

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GIS - Analysis

• GIS software can answer questions about our world

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How GIS works

• In a GIS, different types of information are
  represented as separate map layers
• Each layer is linked to descriptive information
• Layers are combined to make a map

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GIS - Analysis

• GIS can analyze data in many ways

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GIS Technology Is Increasingly Common in Today's
Applications.
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Tsunami Relief
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Hurricane Tracking and Response
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Agriculture / Suitability Analysis
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Municipalities / Planning
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Health Care - Medical Geography
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Telecommunication
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Cartography
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School District Admin

• School mapping and redistricting
• Enrollment analysis
• Facilities management
• School transportation
• Staff/student location analysis
• School safety

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Classroom Applications

• History
• Earth Science
• Social Studies
• Biology
• Environmental Studies
• Political Science
• Mathematics
• Economics
• Business
• Computer Science

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The End