Geographic Information Systems Essay, Research Paper
Geographic Information Systems
Geographic information systems (GIS) technology can be used for scientific investigations, resource management, and development planning. For example, a GIS might allow emergency planners to easily calculate emergency response times and effected areas of the ocean during an oil spill based on the spills location. You may ask, what is GIS? In the strictest sense, a GIS is a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information, i.e. data identified according to their locations. Practitioners also regard the total GIS as including operating personnel and the data that go into the system.
A geographic information system (GIS) works in a series of steps, First there is the relating information from different sources. If you could relate information about oil spill location to the oceans surface currents, you might be able to tell where to start clean up based on how long the oil has been in the ocean. A GIS, which can use information from many different sources, in many different forms can help with such analyses. The primary requirement for the source data is that the locations for the variables are known. Location may be annotated by x, y, and z coordinates of longitude, latitude, and elevation and any variable that can be located spatially can be fed into a GIS. Several computer databases that can be directly entered into a GIS are being produced by Federal agencies and private firms. Different kinds of data in map form can be entered into a GIS. A GIS can also convert existing digital information, which may not yet be in map form into forms it can recognize and use. For example, digital satellite images can be analyzed to produce a map like layer of digital information about marine life productivity. Likewise, sea-grass data can be converted to map-like form, serving as layers of thematic information in a GIS.
Next Step for Geographic information systems (GIS) would be to Capture the data If the data to be used is not already in digital form, that is, in a form the computer can recognize, various techniques can capture the information. Maps can be digitized, or hand-traced with at computer mouse, to collect the coordinates of features. Electronic scanning devices will also convert map lines and points to digits. A GIS can be used to emphasize the spatial relationships among the objects being mapped. While a computer-aided mapping system may represent a shoreline simply as a line, a GIS may also recognize that shoreline as the border between ocean and land, and correctly display the tidal differences of the shoreline based on its location on the earth. Data capture, putting the information into the system, is the time-consuming component of GIS work. Identities of the objects on the map must be specified, as well as their spatial relationships. Editing of information that is automatically captured can also be difficult. Electronic scanners record blemishes on a map just as faithfully as they record the map features. For example, a fleck of dirt might connect two lines that should not be connected. Extraneous data must be edited, or removed from the digital data file.
After the data is collected we must integrate the data. A GIS makes it possible to link, or integrate, information that is difficult to associate through any other means. Thus, a GIS can use combinations of mapped variables to build and analyze new variables. Before the digital data can be analyzed, they may have to undergo other manipulations – projection conversions, for example – that integrate them into a GIS. Projection is a fundamental component of mapmaking. A projection is a mathematical means of transferring information from the Earth’s three-dimensional curved surface to a two-dimensional medium – paper or a computer screen. Different projections are used for different types of maps because each projection is particularly appropriate to certain uses. For example, a projection that accurately represents the shapes of the continents will distort their relative sizes.
Since much of the information in a GIS comes from existing maps, GIS uses the processing power of the computer to transform digital information, gathered from sources with different projections to a common projection. Can a seabed map be related to a satellite image of marine life, as indicator of the importance of seabed to marine life productivity? Yes, but since digital data are collected and stored in various ways, the two data sources may not be entirely compatible. So a GIS must be able to convert data from one structure to another. Image data from a satellite that has been interpreted by a computer to produce a marine life productivity map can be “read into” the GIS in raster format. Raster data files consist of rows of uniform cells coded according to data values. Raster data files can be manipulated quickly by the computer, but they are often less detailed an may be less visually appealing than vector data files, which can approximate the appearance of more traditional hand-drafted maps. Vector digital data have been captured as points, lines (a series of point coordinates), or areas (shapes bounded by lines). GIS to convert data into different formats can perform data restructuring. For example, a GIS may be used to convert a satellite image map to a vector structure by generating lines around all cells with the same classification, while determining the cell spatial relationships, such as adjacency or inclusion. Thus a GIS can be used to analyze seabed information in conjunction with marine life information. It is difficult to relate multiple sets of data using conventional means, however a GIS can be used to depict two- and three-dimensional characteristics of the Earth’s surface, subsurface, and atmosphere from information points.
How is the GIS data used? GIS is powerful and Information retrieved from GIS can be very useful. What do you know about the current status of the different parts of the ocean? With a GIS you can “point” at a location, object, or area on the screen and retrieve recorded information about it from off-screen files. Using scanned aerial photographs as a visual guide, you can ask a GIS about the geology or hydrology of the different areas of the ocean. This kind of analytic function allows you to draw conclusions about the oceans environmental sensitivity.
GIS can also help in site selection. For example the U.S. Geological survey (USGS), in a cooperative project with the Connecticut Department of Natural Resources, digitized more than 40 map layers for the areas covered by the USGS Broad Brook and Ellington 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle maps. This information can be combined and manipulated in a GIS to address planning and natural resource issues. GIS information was used to locate a potential site for new water well within half a mile of the Somers Water Company service area. To prepare the analysis, digital maps of the water service areas were stored in the GIS. Using the buffer function in the GIS, a half-mile zone was drawn around the water company service area. This buffer zone was the ?window? used to view and combines the various map coverage relevant to the well site selection. A GIS was used to select undeveloped areas from the land use and land cover map as the first step in finding well sites. The developed areas were eliminated from further consideration. The quality of water in Connecticut streams is closely monitored. Some of the streams in the study area known to be unusable as drinking water sources. To avoid pulling water from these streams into the wells, 100-meter buffer zones were created around the unsuitable streams using the GIS, and the zones were plotted on the map. A map showing the buffered zone was combined with the land use and land cover map to eliminate areas around unsuitable streams from the analysis. The Connecticut Department of Natural Resources records point sources of pollution. These records consist of a geographic location and a text description of the pollutant. To avoid these toxic areas, a buffer zone of 500 meters was established around each point. This information was combined with other relative GIS layers to produce a new map of areas suitable for well sites.
The condition of the Earth’s surface, atmosphere, and subsurface can be examined by feeding satellite data into a GIS. GIS technology gives researchers the ability to examine the variations in Earth processes over days, months, and years. As an example, the changes in vegetation vigor through a growing season can be animated to determine when drought was most extensive in a particular region. The resulting graphic, known as a normalized vegetation index, represents a rough measure of plant health. Working with two variables over time will allow researchers to detect regional differences in the lag between a decline in rainfall and its effect on vegetation. These analyses are made possible both by GIS technology and by the availability of digital data on regional and global scales. The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer or AVHRR produces the satellite sensor output used to generate the vegetation graphic. This sensor system detects the amounts of energy reflected from the Earth’s surface across various bands of the spectrum for surface areas of about 1 square kilometer. The satellite sensor produces images of a particular location on the Earth twice a day. AVHRR is only one of many sensor systems used for Earth surface analysis. More sensors will follow, generating greater amounts of data. With this type of technology, scientist not only have the resources to help preserve our earth, they also have the proof of destruction at a global scale derived from GIS.
Bibliography
Magazine: GIS World October 98, February 99
Internet: www.gw.geoplace
Magazine: GIS Info Systems (Application of GIS and related spatial information technologies)
November 98, March 99
Internet: www.erdas
Magazine: GPS World January 98
Newsletter: URISA (Urban and Reginal information system association)
Internet: www.geoinfosystems
Government: Southwest florida management district
Другие работы по теме:
Информационная система географических названий США
Введение 1 Изменения наименований Список литературы Введение Информационная система географических названий (англ. Geographic Names Information System, GNIS) - база данных, содержащая названия и информацию о расположении более чем двух миллионов физических и культурных объектов, находящихся в США и подконтрольных им территориях.
Deborah Tannen Essay Essay Research Paper In
Deborah Tannen Essay Essay, Research Paper In contemporary society biological factors are no longer the sole components that distinguish men and women. Rather anything from clothing or hairstyles to make-up or accessories can indicate specific messages about an individual. According to Deborah Tannen, women are more frequently considered marked beings in our society while men have fewer clothing or style options and are therefore free to remain unmarked.
Internet Structure Essay Research Paper The Internet
Internet Structure Essay, Research Paper The Internet connects nearly 400 million users worldwide and is an essential part of how we work, play, communicate, and conduct commerce. We use the Internet in ways that seemed unimaginable The term “Internet” refers to the global information system that — (i) is logically linked together by a globally unique address space based on the Internet Protocol (IP) or its subsequent extensions/follow-ons. (ii) is able to support communications using the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite or its subsequent extensions/follow-ons, and/or other IP-compatible protocols; and (iii) provides, uses or makes accessible layered on the communications and related infrastructure described herein.”, either publicly or privately, high level services.
Youth And Adulthood Essay Research Paper A
Youth And Adulthood Essay, Research Paper A strong relationship has been established between negative events and circumstances during childhood and the development of drug use and drug-related problems in adolescence and young adulthood. Individuals who report parental strife or separation as a child, physical and sexual abuse, parental drug abuse and depression, frequent family geographic relocation, and failure in school, also tend to report a high rate of experimentation with drugs, abusive consumption, and a range of psychological problems associated with heavy drug use.
The Computer Age Essay Research Paper Ben
The Computer Age Essay, Research Paper Ben Purdue 8/24/01 It is my prediction that the biggest issue we will face in the coming century not only as a nation but also as a planet is finding a blind between security of protected information and freedom of information. I say this because as a computer security consultant I understand the need for security of important information, however I as a programmer I understand such issues as the battle for open source code and freedom of information as a hole.
Droughts Essay Research Paper Drought condition of
Droughts Essay, Research Paper Drought, condition of abnormally dry weather within a geographic region where some rain might usually be expected. A drought is thus quite different from a dry climate which designates a region that is normally, or at least seasonally, dry.
Binary Systems Essay Research Paper Binary systems
Binary Systems Essay, Research Paper Binary systems are a major factor of everyday live. As years pass the use of a binary system has changed dramatically. Throughout this essay I will explain what binary systems are, how they were used in the past, and how they are being used today. A binary system is defined as a numbering system with a base (radix) of 2, unlike the number system which has bases of 10.
Gibbons Primat Research Essay Research Paper Scientific
Gibbons, Primat Research Essay, Research Paper Scientific Name: Hylobates lar, Family: Hylobatidae, Order: Primates, Class: Mammalia, Geographic distribution: Tropical rainforest of Southeast Asia. White-handed gibbons lack a prehensile tail and they use a form of locomotion called brachiation to swing from tree to tree and branch to branch.
Ptolemy Sucks Ass Essay Research Paper 1
Ptolemy Sucks Ass Essay, Research Paper 1. Ptolemy established his own latitude and longitude places in the Roman Empire. Since he was wrong by about 30 % he estimated the earth to be one
Boundaries Essay Research Paper This article tells
Boundaries Essay, Research Paper his article tells us the early conflicts, fears, vagueness and historical backgrounds over territorial expansion. The United States had been established with obscure concept of national boundaries. The constitution itself did not articulate geographic limit of the states, partly because the members of the constitutional convention were unsure of their territorial limit and expansion.
Geographic Features Of A Region Has Important
Effects On Development Essay, Research Paper Geographic Features of A Region Has Important Effects on Development The geographic features of a nation or region have an important effect
Comparing Operating Systems Essay Research Paper Comparing
Comparing Operating Systems Essay, Research Paper Comparing Microsoft Operating Systems : 95/98/NT This report is centered on the similarities and differences of the three major operating systems provided by Microsoft during the previous decade. There were and will always be changes and upgrades some of the information may not be current, as these systems have had certain upgrade modules that may not covered.
Computer Net Crime Essay Research Paper Computer
Computer Net Crime Essay, Research Paper Computer crimes are terrorism of the present day. Everything from Website attacks, viruses, and cyber sex. People have even been charged for rape over the internet. Government computers have been an easy target for hackers for decades. According to Defense Information Systems Agency s data, the military may have experienced about 250,000 attacks in 1995 with 2/3 s of the intrusions being successful.
Changes In Anal Essay Research Paper A
Changes In Anal Essay, Research Paper A 35 page research paper closely examining the prospects for US-based businesses in Europe. All around the world, nations are forming geographic alliances to help build their share of the world market, but Western Europe is taking one extra “giant step” in their plans for a barrier-free Europe with a common currency in use by the year 2002.
Crypt Essay Research Paper Cryptography Cryptography is
Crypt Essay, Research Paper Cryptography Cryptography is way you can keep information secure. A person who does not know the method used to change the information to keep it secure cannot copy the method used or reverse the change. The basic components of cryptographic systems are used to encipher (scramble) information so that it is difficult to determine the meaning without the appropriate key or key(s) to decipher (unscramble) the information.
Paintings Essay Research Paper Paul Nash
Paintings Essay, Research Paper Paul Nash s paintings delt with the Battle of Britain. Mainly from the point of view of the brave R.A.F. pilots, and what they may have seen during thier one on one engagements with the Luftwaffe. Nash also did paintings of the areal battle s as someone on the ground. His hope was to make a painting from someone on the ground as what they may have seen.
The 5 Themes In Geography Essay Research
Paper GY202 Geographic Thought Essay #1 – The Five Themes in Geography September 6, 1995 John Doe During the 1980’s the United States showed unacceptably low test scores on simple Geographic tests. The point Committee on Geographic Education could only attribute these results to Geographic Illiteracy, not only on the part of the students, but more importantly on the educators themselves.
Dieting Essay Research Paper The assessment of
Dieting Essay, Research Paper The assessment of diet is often a difficult task: accurate evaluation of a person’s diet is dependent on that person’s ability to give a precise account of their food intake; yet the act of recording a person’s intake can easily influence what the person eats during that time, and people tend to have difficulty remembering what they have eaten.
Constantinople The Gateway City Essay Research
Paper Constantinople: The Gateway City Constantinople was built in 330 CE, by the first Christian emperor, Constantine. Constantinople ruled much of the deserted Roman Empire many years after Constantine’s death. Constantinople can be described as a Gateway City by its geographic features, the cultural influences, and the historical influences upon the rest of the world.
Article Review
– Organization Essay, Research Paper Concept: Organizing Wright Time Richfoods Turns to Supervalu After Stock Hit Pg. 42-43 Corporate Report March 2000
Myths Essay Research Paper Is Information Technology
Myths Essay, Research Paper Is Information Technology a good thing? With the invention of the silicon chip, fiber optic cable and satellite communications the information superhighway is real. This global network of computers makes it possible to move massive amounts of information virtually anyplace.
Asian Theatre Essay Research Paper Asian theatre
Asian Theatre Essay, Research Paper Asian theatre is comprised of more than one geographic area. It consists of India, China and Japan. Each brought their own uniqueness to Asian theatre. Asian theatre as it pertains to China will be discussed in this chapter. Ancient Chinese chronicles mention other theatrical activities such as skits, pantomimes, juggling, singing and dancing.
Massai Warriors National Geographic Report Essay Research
Paper In the September 1999, issue of National Geographic Magazine, there is quite an interesting article that has been written by Carol Beckworth and Angela Fisher. It deals with the Masai Warriors of Kenya, and how their culture recognizes an adolescent male that is becoming a man, or entering manhood.
Geographic Power Essay Research Paper Geographic Power
Geographic Power Essay, Research Paper Geographic Power of Countries Every country has geographic power, although some countries have more than others. Countries with more power often have a valuable supply of natural resources and human resources. The attitude of the people in the country and the problems that the country is faced with are also factors in determining its geographic power.
Georgaphy And Geographic Information Systems Essay Research
Paper Since the beginning of humankind, the study of geography has captured the imagination of the people. In ancient times, geography books extolled tales of distant lands and dreamed of treasures. The ancient Greeks created the word “geography” from the roots “ge” for earth and “grapho” for “to write.” These people experienced many adventures and needed a way to explain and communicate the differences between various lands.
Disaster Recovery Essay Research Paper Windows on
Disaster Recovery Essay, Research Paper Windows on Management – Disaster Recovery in the New Information Age This window talks about some of the benefits of a recovery system for businesses with round the clock electronic commerce. If a disaster happens and these companies don’t have a recovery system, it can cause massive delays and that can lead to loss of business and profits.
How To Writing A Research Essay Essay
, Research Paper How To Writing A Research Essay The toughest part of the essay, for me, was taking all the information I had gained and reduce it to a mere few pages essay. After all, quality is better
Cover Letter Essay Research Paper February 14
Cover Letter Essay, Research Paper February 14, 2001 XXX Inc PO Box 827 Angola, IN-46703 Dear Ms XXX: I am applying for the summer internship in information systems, which we discussed during the Career Exposition at Tri-State University in Fort Wayne on (02/12/01). My bachelor’s degree in Information Systems and academic record are my strongest qualifications for this position.