Geographic Information Systems Basic principles Part 1 Produced

Geographic Information Systems Basic principles Part 1 Produced in Collaboration between World Bank Institute and the Development Data Group (DECDG) Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

Module Objectives Modules designed for non-GIS practitioners and Managers National Statistics Organizations or working in Agriculture or Health Geographic Information Systems, its principles, components, uses and successful implementation imperatives Non-technical reference – does not detail high level technical issues Focus on providing non-technical individuals with: Base knowledge to understand the core principles of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) The Global Positioning System (GPS) Remote Sensing Integration and Implementation Issues Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

The History of GIS - Introduction To understand GIS one needs to understand its history The history of GIS spans four decades It springs from many origins and mingles many disciplines GIS is many things to many people Evolved from Mainframe computers to Mini computers to Personal computers to Distributed computing and Visualisation tools operating via the Internet Has gained increasing general awareness and acceptance Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

The History of GIS - Introduction The awareness of the importance of and need for spatial information increased The integration of mathematical and statistical models with modern computing a and mapping techniques initially drove GIS The prominence of spatial information is a direct result of the computer and information age The history of GIS can be divided into four phases: (adapted from Berry) Computerized Mapping: The early years Spatial Data Management – The idealistic teenager Map Analysis and Modeling – The maturity of GIS Multimedia Mapping and Visualization – The rise of Neogeography Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

The History of GIS – Computerized Mapping Mid 1960 s to 1970 s The focus was on the automation of map creation and map theme overlays Development limited to expensive and cumbersome computer mainframe systems – universities and government departments Development was driven mostly by individuals with little collective effort Pioneering work was done which established many of the underlying modern GIS concepts and procedures Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

The History of GIS – Spatial Data Management The 1980 s Exploitation of the change in data formats and computer environment The development of spatial data management systems was pioneered Enabling spatial information to be queried using traditional database methods Focus on data availability, accuracy and standards – market growth for digital map products and vendor software Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved. Linking data about a feature from a database to a map

The History of GIS – Map Analysis and Modeling The 1990 s Realisation that information is a key driver for development From where is what? . . . to spatial interrelationships and WHY? Comprehensive theory of map analysis – spatial statistics and spatial analysis – applying traditional statistical and mathematical operations from different subject matter fields to GIS Analysing statistical data within the spatial component Allowed the GIS community to create new operations unique to GIS – Optimal path routing Visual exposure density Intelligent thematic mapping Geodemographic neighbourhood and trade area analysis Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

The History of GIS – Multimedia mapping and Visualization The Naughties A broad adoption of geotechnology in our everyday lives – Geography now matters to everyone Geotechnology is one of the three major mega technologies of the 21 st century Complex vendor based GIS giving way to web services and customised application solutions Web based spatial visualization tools and the integration of GPS and remotely sensed imagery allows non-geographically inclined persons to create customised maps and views The age of the neogeographer has arrived - someone who uses geotechnology for personal or even business use but does not have a background in geography – GIS has come full circle Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

Defining GIS Traditional definition: A collection of hardware and software to – Create Store Analyse Disseminate spatial data and its related attribute information Operates on many levels of increasing complexity Every object present on the Earth can be georeferenced and its related attribute information can be linked through a database Common database operations and statistical analysis is integrated with visualisation benefits of digital maps Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

The acronym, G I S The constant evolution of GIS means the acronym is also evolving G I – refers to Geographic or Geospatial information S – can mean any of the following: Systems – the technology for the acquisition and management of spatial information Science – comprehending the underlying conceptual issues of representing data and processes in space-time theory and concepts behind the technology Studies – understanding the social, legal and ethical issues associated with the application of GIS 3 Distinct technologies comprising Geographic Information Technology: Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Remote Sensing Imagery (RS) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

Briggs’s Revised Definition of GIS Considering the information on the previous slide, the following revised definition of GIS has been suggested A system of integrated computer-based tools for end-to-end processing (Capture) (Storage) (Retrieval) (Analysis) (Display) of data using location on the earth’s surface for interrelation in support of operations management, decision making, and science. This system Includes a set of integrated tools for spatial analysis Encompasses end-to-end processing of data Uses explicit location on earth’s surface to relate data Is aimed at decision support, as well as on-going operations and scientific inquiry Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

The Philosophy of GIS Why the phenomenon of GIS? GIS constantly tries to progress from: Data (facts) To information (facts within context) To knowledge (interrelationships among relevant facts) To wisdom (understanding and actionable knowledge) The key driver in GIS evolution is to gain wisdom and understanding – to make accurate decisions using relevant knowledge Computerised map feature layers = data (spatial facts) – distillation of data to information is left to intuitive assessment, human interpretation and biased judgement Mature GIS – new set of database query, mathematical and statistical analysis methods – allow us to further distil spatial facts to information and knowledge – ultimately, wisdom and understanding Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

GIS – The Answer Machine All GIS analysis begins with asking a question relevant to the real world – We collect/create/add spatial and attribute information Apply database queries, spatial and statistical analysis methods Apply our own specialised knowledge about the relevant subject matter We arrive at an answer/conclusion/understanding The accuracy of the answer dependent on the accuracy, currency, relevancy of the data used and the statistical and spatial analysis methods – Most important – how accurately we apply our own knowledge to interpret results Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

So what are these questions? There are 7 basic questions we can ask a GIS (consider the table adapted from Berry) The Question Function Approach Can you map that? Mapping Descriptive Where is what? Management Descriptive Where has it changed? Temporal Descriptive What relationships exist? Spatial Prescriptive Where is best? Suitability Prescriptive What effects what? System Prescriptive What if…. ? Simulation Prescriptive First three questions inventory based – deal mainly with data only Latter four questions are analysis related – deal with the creation of new information, knowledge and ultimately, understanding Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

Question 1 – Can you map that? The first question ever asked in GIS – Computerized mapping A large portion of GIS still deals with this question – updating and timely output of map products Digital map creation much more productive, accurate than manual draughting with many more aesthetic possibilities Typical question in a Population Census environment would be: “Can we map our new Enumerator Area (EA) boundaries digitally and can we add prominent landmarks as points within each EA polygon? Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved. Transferring analogue EA boundaries to digital format through heads-up digitizing

Question 2 – Where is what? Exploits the linkage between the digital map and database management technology Conditions surrounding the first two questions determines the character and design of GIS – remaining questions determine the sophistication of its applications Relevant question - Where are the Enumerator Areas with a male population of more than 200? Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

Question 3 – Where has it changed? Temporal analysis or change over time – transition from descriptive to prescriptive queries Affords a new perspective on existing data Using imagery from different years to determine urban development and densification for EA demarcation Typical question – “Assess the prevalence of pit latrines within a peri urban environment over a period of five years. ” Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

Question 4 – What relationships exist? Focuses on spatial and statistical analysis across data layers Here we deal with derived information from existing data Requires developed spatial reasoning in order to ask the correct questions Finding a relationship between female literacy and contraceptive use Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

Question 5 – Where is best? Suitability models, trade area analysis and site selection Spatial reasoning and subject matter knowledge is important Clinic site selection using buffer analysis Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

Question 6 – What effects what? Involves system models – tracking of cause and effect through empirically derived relationships Outcome based models built with the sole purpose to identify causality or trends within real world environments Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

Question 6 – What effects what? From Innovative. GIS: Creating a customer density map Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.

Question 7 – What if? . . scenarios Models and predicts outcomes of real world actions and occurrences which already happened or might still happen. What if – we implement this there or move this here or build this there – what will the outcome or forecast be? What if we increase the floor space of this shopping centre by 20000 sq/m – How would it impact trade area? Copyright 2010, The World Bank Group. All Rights Reserved.