Topic: Introduction to GIS

Lecturer: Sufian Munir

gisufian@gmail.com
Contents:

1. Overview of GIS

• What is GIS?

• spatial and non-spatial data

• GIS components

2. Who Uses GIS

3. GIS Software’s & Applications

4. GIS Data

5. References
 What is GIS?
A geographic information system (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate,
analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data.

Spatial Data
Also known as geospatial data or geographic information it is the data or information that
identifies the geographic location of features and boundaries on Earth, such as natural or
constructed features, oceans, and more. Spatial data is usually stored as coordinates and
topology, and is data that can be mapped. Spatial data is often accessed, manipulated or analyzed
through Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Non spatial data

The non spatial data are numbers, does not refer to any location, Like dimensions.
GIS components

Who Uses GIS

Modern GIS is about participation, sharing, and collaboration. Discover how the technology is
strengthening relationships, driving efficiencies, and opening communications channels in your
community.

GIS software’s are used by individual people, communities, research institutions, environmental scientists,
health organizations, land use planners, businesses, and government agencies at all levels.
GIS Software’s & Applications

• Open-source software
• Commercial software (Proprietary)
• Software cracking is the modification of software to remove or disable features which are
considered undesirable by the person cracking the software, especially copy protection features

List of GIS Software

There are many softwares which are used for manipulating data in our application some are given below.

You can use software according to your application.

Open Source GIS Softwares:

• QGIS – Formerly Quantum GIS

• gVSIG
• ILWIS (Integrated Land and Water Information Management)
• GeoDa
• Image Analysis:
• Erdas Imagine
• Envi

Commercial softwares (Proprietary):

• ArcGIS (Esri)
• MapInfo Professional
• Global Mapper (Blue Marble)
• Manifold GIS
• Geomedia

GIS Applications:

• Agricultural Application
• GIS in Mapping
• Telecom and Network services
• Accident Analysis and Hot Spot Analysis
• Urban Planning
• Transportation Planning
• Environmental Impact Analysis
• Landslide Hazard Zonation using GIS
 • Determine land use/land cover changes
• Flood damage estimation
• Natural Resources Management
• Soil Mapping
• Land Information System
• Surveying

GIS Data:

Types of GIS data:

• Raster
• Vector

References: https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/support/understanding-gis/what-is-gis-data.html

https://grindgis.com/blog/gis-applications-uses https://www.gislounge.com/open-source-gis-

applications/