GIS is all about the maps!

Tool or Science?

The recent proliferation of GIS as a tool within numerous professionshas also spurred a debate. Some see GIS as a tool, like any software merely helping the profession. Others see GIS as a discipline unto itself. Those working with GIS software, in this school of thought, are attributed a set of skills including the analysis of the data presented by the software.

Wright et al. (1997) mention a third catagory: GIS as a tool maker, providing maps and computatorial analysis for hte professionals. Pickles (1997), in response the Wright et al., pursues the dilema of the separation of scientists and their tools and to what degree the two can be seperated. Pickles concludes that GIS is essentially a science based around the software tools, and that the confusion of those using GIS should now give way to "the scholarly investigation of of its [GIS] origins, logics, systems, new capacities, and new uses."

I, myself, consider GIS to be a class of software, a tool. It is a series of programs designed to integrate and interpret spatial data. Those that use GIS software may use it for any number of disciplines. The applications of a comprehensive data integration system are so widespread that it borders on the ridiculus. To classify the vendor that uses GIS to track international sales as being in the same discipline as the emergency aid worker using GIS to plan the movements of relief after an avalanche is preposterous. It's like saying that anyone using a spreadsheet is in the same business as anyone else using a spreadsheet. While being able to apply, use, and interpret the results of GIS is a definite (and very marketable) skill, I would not classify it as a science unto itself.

Satellite images make great GIS Templates.

 

A Few GIS Producers

ESRI: Environmental Systems Research Institute (Founded 1969) has become the largest R&D outfit dedicated to GIS technology. Their GIS manipulation software is used by more than a million users worldwide. Based at first on the UNIX operating system it has since transferred over to the more prevalent Microsoft Windows platform. They also perform other services such as business solutions, consulting, and conference hosting. Their user conference has grown into the "largest annual GIS event in the world."

IDRISI: Produced by Clark Labs, IDRISI is a "user-friendly professional-level GIS, Image Processing and Spatial Statistics analytical tool" produced and conceptualized as an affordable GIS program for all levels including non-profit organizations.

AutoCAD: AutoCAD- famous for their Computer Aided Design programs- now produces a GIS client called Autodesk GIS design server. Autodesk GIS design server allows customization through Visual BASIC and C++ programming languages.

MAPInfo: MAPInfo supplies GIS software with an emphasis on business-client satisfaction, extensive data analysis, and trend and pattern revelation.

Related Links:

The Association of American Geographers: An association that encourages professional advances in geography with several funded projects.

GISdevelopment.net: The self described Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Portal mostly deals with Asia and Oceana. It offers news, articles, event proceedings, and announces upcoming events related to GIS.

Open GIS Consortium: (OGC) is an organization of universities, govenmental organizations, and companies workingto develope a set of universal industry standards and specifcations for geoprocessing.

GIS and Civil War Battle Field Preservation
Learn more at CivilWar.GATech

 

A GIS map can show dozens of layers.

GIS can create accurate large scale maps showing geologic and climate maps.

And topo maps!

Geology
and
GIS
(Geographic Information Systems)

Introduction:

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is, at its simplest a software tool used to map spatial data. Spatial data is any data with a mappable location. With the recent astronomical advances in processing power computers capable of running this software have proliferated. Geologists are finding GIS software a very useful tool.

Dr. Roger Tomlinson the man who coined the phrase:
Geographic Information Systems.

GIS Analysis:

Paper Topo-maps can be converted into 3D terraine maps.

“The positive result of modern day exploration lies in the effective analysis of the datasets, the extraction of only the exploration relevant factors and integration of these factors to a single prospectivity map (Knox-Robinson 2000)”

GIS technology allows geologists to simulatneously view and manipulate numerous layers of datasets. The USGS has a wonderful example of the process a development team may go through during site selection.

Layering Graphic

A Few Uses of GIS:

Mining:

"The stage is all set for a revolution"
(Bhasin, accessed 2003)

Miners can use GIS to map and keep track of the constantly changing pipelines, electrical lines, roads, ramps, and other facilitites, as well as to plan the optimum locations for new facilities (GISdevelopment.net, accessed April 2003).

Pranit Bhasin (accessed 2003) has suggested that the use of GIS technology can help miners cut costs, improve search methods and research and produce maps of a higher quality than is currently availible. He foresees the use of aerial photos, satellite images, aeromagnetic interpretations, and currently availible data integrated into a GIS database to "create a valuable pool of information." Bhasin, writing about India, suggests that his country is perhaps behind the times and losing out to coutries such as Australia and Malaysia who have put this technology to use already.

Diamond mining has been a traditionally difficult industry to start, as diamonds are found primarily within Kimberlite "pipes". Misra, et al. (accessed April 2003) suggest the integrated use of GIS technology in general and the tesselation and vector coding in specific as a way of methodically finding new kimberlite pipes and the diamonds contained therein.

Emergency Planning:

Mauna Loa lava flows on the NE rift zone.

Numerous GIS producers (see sidebar) have touted their software to aid in the risk identification, prediction, and planning of natural disasters. As always it is impossible to accurately predict when and where such events will take place, but GIS software- in conjunction with accurate maps and analysis- may allow us to minimize the risks.

Butler (1990) descibes the use of GIS to "examine the spatial relationships" of the various geological elements of Glacier National Park, in Montana. These interpretations were geared towards identifying high-probability avalanche paths. Field observation confirmed the computer models as accurate.

3D GIS Weather Map

Geomorphology:

"GIS (Geographic Information System) software can be a viable solution to the problem of terrain modeling" (Pandey et al., accessed 2003).

The study of geomorphology has been greatly aided by the application of Geographic Information Systems. The geomorphology of a region can be instrumental in the desicion of land use. The geologic formations underlying an agricultural region may dictate the ideal crops for the regions, such as the study of the Damobar River Basin (Kumar et al. accessed 2003). The stability and location of the bedrock may determine the placement of foundations or even prevent the establishment of certain buildings. Research of geomorphology on a regional scale can have great economic benefits. Since the geomorphology of a region is often somewhat obscured by overlying topsoils every hint and clue must be evaluated. GIS is the idea platform for such analysis as it provides a spatial grid map with thematic layering. GIS is also often packeaged with numerous analytical programs that will aid in the recognition of certain features.

Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are one of the most useful applications of GIS technology. Using GIS data evaluations of a region's geomorphology may be much more precise with the availability of enhanced and more accurate maps. Utilizing GIS software DEM modelers can combine the data evaluating capacity of a spreadsheet with the astounding clarity of digital graphics.

A Digital Elevation Model for Long Island, New York.

Literature Cited

Bhasin, P. Mineral exploration- using modern techniques. http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/geology/mineral/geom0014.htm. Accessed 2003 April 3.

Butler, R. D., Walsh, S. J. Lithologic, structural, and topographic influences on snow-avalanche path location, eastern glacier national park, montana.
Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 80, No. 3. (Sep., 1990), pp. 362-378.

Copyright GISdevelopment.net. Mapping the mines: the quest continues. http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/geology/mineral/geom0013.htm. Accessed 2003 April 3.

Knox-Robinson, C. M., 2000, Vectoral fuzzy logic: a novel technique for enhanced mineral prospectivity mapping, with reference to orogenic gold mineralisation potential of the Kalgoorlie terrane, Western Australia. Australian Journal of Earthsciences, Vol 47, pp 929-941

Kumar, S. S., Sridhar, K. T., Chakraborty, M. K., Tewary, B. K. GIS techniques for carrying capacity study of Damobar river basin. GISdevelopment.net. http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/geology/geomorphology/geom0001.htm. accessed 2003 April 4.

Misra, R. S., Murlidharan, P. K., Sikhendu, P., Nath, M. S., Sinha, P. K. A GIS Approach in mineral targeting with narayanpet kimberlite deposit spatial dataset. http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/geology/mineral/mi03034.htm. Accessed 2003 April 3.

Pandey, M., Jaishankar, J., Rajagopal, K., Ramalingam, M. 3D GIS based slope stability model. http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/geology/geomorphology/geogs001.htm. Accessed 2003 April 4.

Pickles, J. Tool or science? GIS, technoscience, and the theoretical turn. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 87, No. 2. (Jun., 1997), pp. 363-372.

Wright, D. J., Goodchild, M. F., Proctor, J. D. GIS: tool or science? demystifying the
persistent ambiguity of GIS as "tool" versus "science."
Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 87, No. 2. (Jun., 1997),
pp. 346-362

Wright, J. The Plain Fellow's Guide to Geographic Information Systems.
Geographical Journal, Vol. 154, No. 2. (Jul., 1988), pp. 161-168.

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