Geographic Information Systems - Term Paper Example

? of the of the of the INTRODUCTION TO GIS (Geographic Information System) INFORAMTION SYSTEMS Computer software that takes raw data as input, process information and output useful information in line with the usability requirements of the stakeholders is referred to as an information system. Information systems are often termed as a means of acting as an intermediary between the output processes and backend computer systems. Specific information systems are often designed for specific information processing. For example a payroll system may be embedded in a business environment that would take care of all the pay generation requirements of the business. This computerized system would ease the timely calculation of the organization’s payroll and with very little chance of any errors in those calculations. If witnessed on a larger scale, there is a number of information handling requirements of organizations. Every organizational level within a business needs certain information in order to execute the set of processes at that level. Managers at the higher management level need to make decisions for which they need results of reports and data analysis. This enables them to successfully embed the processed information into their decision making procedures. Likewise, managers at the middle managerial level would need more simplified information that would enable them to keep an eye over the day to day ongoing business activities. Thus, it may well be said that the execution of a full day of business processes running within an organization requires the operating of a number of information systems simultaneously each of which would cater to the specific requirements at each organizational level. Following is a narration of a specific type of information systems termed as the Geographical Information Systems. The narration has been done in first person. GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) My name is Geographical Information System. I am a perfect example of practically implemented Information systems. WHY AM I IMPORTANT (WHY IS A GIS IMPORTANT?) The geography of land on which human beings live is of immense importance to them. Ever since the ancient times of the human society these living beings have looked up locations of areas to analyze the possibility of presence of prey in that particular area. The early hunters based their living on moving from one location to the other. Geographical importance of land and the details of its terrain have been of integral importance to man since centuries ago. Maps, spatial information have been the source of discovery and planning since times unknown. Geographical mapping is the most integral use of the geographical information at hand. Looking up the route to a particular location is among the most basic ways in which geographical information helps. Spatial information, on the other hand, affects the most basics of human society such as the growing up of crops, the production of energy, the making of clothes worn by man. With the discovery of computing technology all the geographical and spatial information was put to even better use. It was possible only after the integration of computing technology that my creation was planned. My development was aimed as the making of a tool that would be able to assist human beings with the geographic knowledge associated with themselves and their belongings. I am designed to help in the gathering and use of spatial data. I embed within myself certain technological features such as advanced networking abilities for establishing effective and timely communication, space age data collectors for maintaining any data collection in massive databases for future use and other highly sophisticated and intricate computing features. My capabilities and features continue to evolve with the passing of time since technological advancements are rising on a very rapid rate. These ever-developing technological changes are making my systems more enhanced with every passing unit time. The basic method of storing geography related information within me is that it is recorded in the form of where something is and what purpose that something may serve with respect to the geographical importance linked with its properties. For example, the spatial analysis of a particular location stored within me would mean analyzing the properties of that particular location and relating them to the features of the physical location that they exist at in reality. WHAT AM I? (WHAT IS A GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM?) My formal definition can be quoted as is narrated by gis.com in the following words: A geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts. A GIS helps you answer questions and solve problems by looking at your data in a way that is quickly understood and easily shared. (gis.com, n.p.) Stating it rather simply, I am a tool. I am used for structuring and utilizing spatial information. I am based on computing devices. I assist in collecting, maintaining and storing spatial data. I can also be used to analyze the data stored within me and to regulate the resultant output and distribution of the concerned spatial information. My wise and appropriate use may result in the betterment of the life of human beings on the whole. It can enable healthier, prospered and harmless living for the human race. MY HISTORY (HISTORY OF GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM) My birth was initiated at very immature levels across various laboratories and it was not until the 1970s that I was introduced as a package by certain private companies that my consolidated form came into being. As quoted by the James Nathaniel at Brown .edu the main concept of developing a system based on the specifications similar to mine was initiated back in the 1960s. Multiple separate ventures existed across numerous areas of study in 1960s. The first attempt to digitize geographical information was done by the U.S. Census Bureau in the 1960s (Nathaniel). This large scale digital mapping of spatial information laid the basis for my invention. Along with this digital mapping work on geographic data continued at various universities throughout the 19502 and 1960s.During these universities’ based researches The Harvard school of Graduate design, in the year 1996 formulated the Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis. This was a grid based mapping program and was generally termed as SYMAP. SYMAP was spread out to other locations and it served as a model for subsequent systems that were created in line with it. In those early times the pre-GIS systems were dependent on Mainframe computers and hence they could be implemented only in the environments of governmental structures or university environments. My first independent and complete version was presented for individual sale in the market by corporate vendors in the year 1970. With the advent of more advanced and compact technologies that accompanied lesser costs of computing machinery in the tear 1980 onwards my individual version perfected even more and my purchase became affordable such that my different separate copies could now be implanted in governmental and municipal offices. In the last years of the twentieth century I was being implemented at organizational and sub municipal levels. GUI based desktop mapping system was invented by the name of ArcView in the year 1992. Getting rid of the command line interface, this version of mine was furthermore developed for Microsoft Windows such that distributed mapping and Spatial analysis over the internet was introduced in it. This considerably reduced my cost. HOW DO I WORK? I am characterized with the ability to relate information in spatial context. The relationship that occurs is then concluded. Every location present on the planet Earth has a reference point associated with it in me. For example, when the information of rainfall is collected it is done so referencing it to some point in my system. This reference point may be based on the latitude and longitude of the physical location and may even be associated with its altitude. This collected information may be compared to the reference point of any other physical location analyzing the difference of rainfall that may have fallen in both the places. In this manner those locations may be chalked out that receive relatively lesser rain throughout the year. Thus such agricultural plants would be attempted to rise in such regions that would sustain draughts and lesser rainfall. Many subsequent analyses, similar to those narrated above, can very well be conducted by me. Thus effective and timely decision making is just one of the many factors that get benefitted by using me. A generalized version of my software, on a state level, can be incorporated with many small scale individual databases all in a go. Thus all the different state and military departments of a country, the academia, research units, and non-profit organizations may all ember their individual databases into me system. The data input that is done into me can be done in the form of maps as well. Any type of digital information, when entered into my system, is converted into digital forms that are recognized by my systems itself. Data Capture: In order to enter data into my system maps can be digitized by tracing the ‘On-Paper’ map with a hand mouse or by using sense of touch at the tablet touch screen. The GPS or the Global Positioning System may be used to add its coordinates to the data input of my system. Data Integration: A specific type of data input may be given various meanings when it gets integrated with substantial knowledge management protocols already embedded within me. Figure 1: Data integration in a GIS. Data Structures: Data is embedded into me either in the form of ‘Raster’ or ‘Pixel’. Raster stores information in squares called pixels. The pixels are all of equal sizes and the information within each pixel is termed as its ‘value’. ‘Vectors’ on the other hand store information in the form of points, arcs or polygons. The information is stored by ‘linking’ it to these points/ arcs/ polygons. SUMMARY: I am basically a computer based tool that assists in decision making by using spatial information. The main objective is the determination of effective use of resource at the right geographic location at the right time and the deployment of proper advanced technologies at the prescribed locations in order to get the most out of the research. Figure 2: implementation OF A GIS. I am a technology that is supported by disciplines of Geography, engineering, computer science and statistics just to name a few. The hardware required for my implementation in an environment comprises of fast computing devices, extensive storage mechanisms and input mechanisms that capture data from various means. Successful implementation of my system ensures effective planning and developmental strategies’ implementation across the land. WORKS CITED: Bolstad, Paul. Data Integration in a GIS. Photograph. Webshots. GIS Fundamentals. 2008. Web. 17 November 2011. Tutor2u. “Types of Information System.” Tutor2u.net. n.d. Web. 17 November, 2011. Grover Varun., Purvis, Russell., Coffey, John. Information System Effectiveness. Business Clemson University. June 30, 2005. Web. 17 November 2011. Gis.com. What is GIS? Gis.com 2011. Web. 17 November 2011. Nathaniel, James. History of GIS. Mapping the Sense of Place. Brown University. 2001. Web. 17 November, 2011. Bolstad, Paul. GIS Fundamentals. White Bear Lake, Minn. : Eider Press, 2008. PaulBolstad.net. Web. 17 November 2011. Sutton, T., Dassau, O., Sutton, M. A Gentle Introduction to GIS. November 2002. Web. 17 November 2011. USGA, Geographical Information System. Science of a changing world. 22 Feb 2007. Web. 17 November, 2011. TNTmips. Introduction to GIS. TNT edit and TNT view. 2005. Web. 17 November 2011. Durham University. Introduction to GIS using ArcGIS. Information Technology Service. June 2006. Web, 17 November, 2011. Hcl.harvard. Introduction to Geographical Information Systems Tutorial. Harvard map collection. 1 June 2009. Web. 17 November 2011. Bolstad, Paul. Implementation of a GIS. Photograph. Webshots. GIS Fundamentals. 2008. Web. 17 November 2011. Read More