Video Lecture
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Lecture Slides
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Required Reading
Complete the following readings before our next class meeting.
Textbook Chapter
Getting to Know ArcGIS Pro
Chapter 1: Introducing GIS (pp. 1-28)
Focus on: What is GIS, GIS components, and
spatial thinking
Supplementary Article
Goodchild, M. F. (2010). "Twenty years of progress: GIScience in 2010." Journal of Spatial Information Science, 1(1), 3-20.
Download PDFLecture Notes
What is GIS?
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of spatial or geographical data. At its core, GIS answers the fundamental question: "What is where, and why?"
Key Components of GIS
- Hardware: Computers, GPS units, digitizers, plotters
- Software: ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth, web mapping platforms
- Data: Spatial data (vector, raster) and attribute data
- People: Analysts, cartographers, database administrators
- Methods: Analysis procedures, workflows, best practices
Brief History of GIS
- 1960s: Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS) - Roger Tomlinson
- 1970s: Harvard Lab developments, ESRI founded
- 1980s: Desktop GIS emerges, ArcInfo released
- 1990s: Windows-based GIS, web mapping begins
- 2000s: Google Maps/Earth revolution, open-source GIS growth
- 2010s-Present: Cloud GIS, real-time data, AI integration
GIS Applications
GIS is used across virtually every industry:
- Urban Planning: Zoning, land use, transportation
- Environmental Science: Conservation, climate modeling
- Public Health: Disease tracking, healthcare access
- Business: Site selection, market analysis, logistics
- Emergency Management: Disaster response, evacuation planning
- Archaeology: Site documentation, landscape analysis
Careers in GIS
The geospatial industry continues to grow. Common job titles include:
- GIS Analyst / Specialist
- Cartographer
- Geospatial Data Scientist
- Remote Sensing Analyst
- Location Intelligence Analyst
- Urban/Regional Planner
Discussion Questions
Come to class prepared to discuss the following questions:
- Think about your daily life. How many times do you interact with GIS or location-based services in a typical day? List at least 5 examples.
- The textbook describes GIS as both a tool and a science. What's the difference between "GIS" and "GIScience"?
- Roger Tomlinson is often called the "father of GIS." What problem was he trying to solve when he developed CGIS?
- How might the growth of artificial intelligence and machine learning change the field of GIS in the next 10 years?