GIS For Dummies^®

by Michael N. DeMers (New Mexico State Univ.)

• ISBN13: 9780470521557
• ISBN10: 0470521554
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2009-03-01
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

GIS (geographic information system) is a totally cool technology that has been called "geography on steroids." GIS is what lets you see the schools in your neighborhood or tells you where the nearest McDonald's is. GIS For Dummies tells you all about mapping terminology and digital mapping, how to locate geographic features and analyze patterns such as streets and waterways, and how to generate travel directions, customer location lists, and much more with GIS.Whether you're in charge of creating GIS applications for your business or you simply love maps, you'll find GIS For Dummies is packed with information. For example, you can: Learn all the hardware and software necessary to collect, analyze, and manipulate GIS data Explore the difference between 2D and 3D maps, create a map, or manage multiple maps Analyze patterns that appear in maps and interpret the results Measure distance in absolute, comparative, and functional ways Recognize how spatial factors relate to geographic data Discover how GIS is used in business, the military, city planning, emergency services, land management, and more Find out how GIS can help you find out where flooding may occur Determine what your organization needs, do appropriate analyses, and actually plan and design a GIS systemYou'll find dozens of applications for GIS queries and analyses, and even learn to create animated GIS output. Whether your goal is to implement a GIS or just have fun, GIS For Dummies will get you there!

Table of Contents

Introduction

GIS: Geography on Steroids.

Seeing the Scope of GIS

Recognizing How Maps Show Information

Reading, Analyzing, and Interpreting Maps

Geography Goes Digital.

Creating a Conceptual Model

Understanding the GIS Data Models

Keeping Track of Data Descriptions

Managing Multiple Maps

Gathering and Digitizing Geographic Data

Retrieving, Counting, and Characterizing Geography.

Finding Information in Raster Systems

Finding Features in Vector Systems

Searching for Geographic Objects, Distributions, and Groups

Analyzing Geographic Patterns.

Measuring Distance

Working with Statistical Surfaces

Exploring Topographical Surfaces

Working with Networks

Comparing Multiple Maps

Map Algebra and Model Building

GIS Output and Application.

Producing Cartographic Output

Generating Non-Cartographic Output

GIS in Organizations

The Part of Tens.

Ten GIS Software Vendors

Ten Questions to Ask Potential Vendors

Ten GIS Data Sources

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.