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Specialist: David Hart UW Sea Grant University of Wisconsin 1975 Willow Drive Madison, WI 53706
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems GIS This page provides an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Please click on the links below or scroll down the page for more information. Table of Contents Introduction to GIS Additional Links
Introduction to GIS Geographic information (i.e.., land information, spatial information) is information that can be associated with a place name, a street address, section/township, a zip code, or coordinates of latitude and longitude. A multitude of government functions require geographic information; at least 70 percent of all information used by local governments is geographically referenced. [1] For example, property records and assessment, planning and zoning, permit tracking, natural resource management, infrastructure and transportation management, economic development planning, and health and public safety. All of these applications consider the location of certain features on the landscape in relation to other features. For instance, in assessment, the location of soil types relative to property parcels is considered, whereas in planning and zoning, the location of animal confinement facilities relative to residential areas might be relevant. A geographic information system (GIS) allows the user to examine and visualize these relationships. [2] Defining GIS A “geographic information system” (GIS) is a computer-based tool that allows you to create, manipulate, analyze, store and display information based on its location. GIS makes it possible to integrate different kinds of geographic information, such as digital maps, aerial photographs, satellite images and global positioning system data (GPS), along with associated tabular database information (e.g., ‘attributes' or characteristics about geographic features). Using GIS, you can incorporate all of this information into a single system and execute common database operations. For example, GIS allows you to perform statistical analysis or spatial queries, to explore ‘what-if' scenarios, and to create predictive models. For example, GIS can help answer questions such as: What exists at a given location? Where does something occur? What has changed since a specific point in time? What spatial patterns exist? What happens if…? GIS allows you to examine and analyze geographic information at different levels of detail or from different perspectives. Then, it enables you to customize the display of your maps and analyses for presentation to particular audiences. GIS and Coastal Management GIS can be used for any number of coastal management applications, like improving the administration and enforcement of zoning ordinances. It can measure straight-line distances and areas, and thus determine a minimum lot width of 100 ft. and minimum lot size of 20,000 sq. ft. as often mandated in subdivision regulations. Or, GIS can also be used to generate buffers around lines or designated areas. The benefits of taking a GIS approach to coastal management, might include: (1) the ability to model, test, and compare alternative scenarios - before the proposed strategy is imposed on the real world; (2) the ability to handle much larger data bases and to integrate and synthesize data -- leading to a more holistic and coordinated management strategies; and (3) enhanced capacity for data exchange. [3] GIS and Decision-Making Local government units make countless land-related decisions. As a whole, these decisions shape the way in which land is used and the built environment is managed. GIS has tremendous potential for facilitating this decision-making process and for revealing the combined effect of incremental decisions. Indeed, many have praised GIS for its ability to provide “better information” – information that is faster, cheaper, more reliable, more readily available, and more understandable – which, in turn, might lead to “better decision-making”. [4] More or “better” information, however, will not necessarily reduce conflict in policy debates. As O'Looney (1997) cautions, “a GIS can often reveal but do nothing about underlying conflicts of interest (p. 7).” [1] Furthermore, information technologies like GIS can affect an organization's planning and problem-solving processes in contradictory ways. Elwood (2000) notes that use of these technologies can “provide new opportunities for some community members to participate, make valued and influential contributions to [an] organization's planning efforts, and enhance their capacity to take effective action on their own behalf and that of their neighborhood (p. 167).” At the same time, however, use of information technologies also can “reinforce education and expertise barriers to participation by some residents, and diminish the authority and influence of knowledge claims based on local experience in favor of professional expertise (p. 168).” [5] Thus, it is important not to adopt an “appliance mentality” when using GIS. Remember that successful use of GIS does not depend on technical choices alone. Organizational and institutional factors frequently are a greater barrier to successful GIS use. To make this innovation a useful component of a decision-making process, a community should carefully consider all facets of GIS implementation – technical, organizational, legal, and administrative.
Additional Links Introductory Materials on GIS This publication provides a basic understanding of GIS. Queen and Blinn, University of Minnesota Extension Service accessed March 2004. http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/DD5926.html
The GIS Primer: An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Provides an overview of the issues and requirements for implementing and applying geographic information systems technology. This primer focuses on practical issues concerned with the responsible implementation and application of GIS technology and is intended as an introductory text with an emphasis on identifying and clearly illustrating fundamental concepts in GIS applications. David J. Buckley, Pacific Meridian Resources, Inc. accessed March 2004. http://www.innovativegis.com/basis/primer/primer.html
GIS.Com ‘What is a GIS?' This website provides information and links on the basics of GIS, including what is, how to use, and how to do GIS analysis. GIS.com accessed March 2004. http://www.gis.com/whatisgis/index.html
USGS ‘What Is a GIS?' This introduction to GIS from the U.S. Geological Survey explains how GIS has been applied through history to the present day. USGS accessed March 2004. http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/gis_poster
About GIS (GIS Lounge)
http://gislounge.com/library/what-is-gis/
Core Curriculum in GIScience (NCGIA)
http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/education/curricula/giscc
GIS Basics (ESRI)
http://www.esri.com/getting_started/index.html
GIS WWW Resource List (University of Edinburgh) http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/giswww.html
Notes and Study Materials for GIS (Geographer's Craft Project, University of Colorado) http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/notes.html
Overview of GIS (GIS Development)
http://www.gisdevelopment.net/tutorials/tuman006.htm
Proceedings of Coastal GeoTools: Spatial Technology Conference for Coastal Resource Professionals Conference held to promote the understanding and use of geospatial data, tools, and technology applications for effective coastal management. NOAA Coastal Services Center accessed March 2004. http://www.csc.noaa.gov/GeoTools/
EARTHUSE: Guide to the Theory and Application of Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Planning Provides a guide to the theory and application of GIS and environmental planning, along with application examples. Dennis Fehler Consulting accessed April 2004. http://www.ou.edu/class/webstudy/fehler/E3/index.html
Notes [1] O'Looney, John. 1997. Beyond Maps: GIS and Decision Making in Local Government. Washington, D.C: International City/County Management Association. p. 3-5. [2] Zink, Larry. 2000. Chapter 2: What is Geographic Information and GIS? In Draft: Nebraska Guidebook for a Local Government Multipurpose Land Information System. Nebraska Advisory Committee on Standards for Multipurpose Land Information Systems, accessed March 10, 2004. [3] Bartlett, Darius J. 1990. Spatial Data Structures and Coastal Information Systems. Paper read at EGIS '90, April 10-13, 1990, at Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p. 33. [4] Ventura, Stephen J. 1995. The Use of Geographic Information Systems in Local Government. Public Administration Review 55(5): 461-467. [5] Elwood, Sarah A. 2000. Information for Change: The Social and Political Impacts of Geographic Information Technologies. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Minnesota.
Disclaimer: The information provided in the Great Lakes Coastal Planning Resource website is provided as a convenience and has been compiled from multiple sources starting in January 2003 and updated in February 2007. This information is not intended as a comprehensive source and may not always be the most recent source available. This site contains links to other web sites (Linked Sites), which are not under the control of the website. We are not responsible for the contents of any Linked Site, including without limitation any link contained in a Linked Site, or any changes or updates to a Linked Site. The website also is not responsible for webcasting or for any other form of transmission received from any Linked Site. The website is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement of the site by the website or any association with its operators. The Great Lakes Coastal Planning Resource website was developed by the Land Information & Computer Graphics Facility (LICGF), in collaboration with and funding provided by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Grant #NA03NOS4190106, along with assistance from the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. For more information, contact David Hart.