Geography
Geospatial Technologies
Geospatial technologies refer to tools and techniques used to collect, analyze, and visualize geographic data. These technologies include geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), remote sensing, and spatial analysis software. They are essential for understanding and solving complex geographical problems, such as mapping natural disasters, urban planning, environmental monitoring, and resource management.
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eBook - PDF- Malcolm McInerney, Susan Caldis, Stephen Cranby, John Butler, Alaric Maude, Susanne Jones, Michael Patrick Law, Rebecca Nicholas(Authors)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
The field of geospatial sciences is involved with the space related to the Earth; specifically, Geospatial Technologies are tools that help us to measure and represent the Earth. We tend to consider three main areas when we look at Geospatial Technologies, all of which will be discussed below. The main technologies related to the geospatial field are: • geographical information systems (GIS) • global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) • remote sensing. Naming conventions One aspect of the geospatial sciences that can make the field hard to access is the inconsistent use of terminology across different parts of the geospatial community. 164 PART 2 GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS In the Australian Curriculum: Geography, the term ‘spatial technologies’ is used. In the industry, the term ‘geospatial’ is preferred to help highlight the geographic aspect of the information. Throughout this chapter, both terms will be used interchangeably. Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) The first technology that should be introduced to students and teachers is the one with which they are generally most familiar: global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) technology, which most people refer to as ‘GPS’ (global positioning system). As indicated, the naming can be confusing here: the United States began to put up the GPS network in the 1970s. This technology was only able to be used by the United States and its allies’ military forces until the US Government opened access for the public in the late 1990s. This exclusivity forced other nations to create their own networks, such as Russia’s GLONASS, Europe’s Galileo and China’s BeiDou; these, along with GPS, are all types of GNSS. Colloquially, these networks are all usually referred to as ‘GPS’, even though GPS specifically relates to the US network. There was limited civilian use (e.g. civilian air flights) before the late 1990s. Pause and think Consider the impact GNSS/GPS has had on your life.
eBook - PDFEmerging Informatics
Innovative Concepts and Applications
- Shah Jahan Miah(Author)
- 2012(Publication Date)
- IntechOpen(Publisher)
Section 1 Specialised Informatics and Applications 1 Applications of Geospatial Technologies for Practitioners: An Emerging Perspective of Geospatial Education Yusuf Adedoyin Aina Geomatics Technologies Department, Yanbu Industrial College, Yanbu Saudi Arabia 1. Introduction Geospatial technology (also known as geomatics) is a multidisciplinary field that includes disciplines such as surveying, photogrammetry, remote sensing, mapping, geographic information systems (GIS), geodesy and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) (Pun-Cheng, 2001). According to the U.S. Department of Labour, geospatial industry can be regarded as “an information technology field of practise that acquires, manages, interprets, integrates, displays, analyzes, or otherwise uses data focusing on the geographic, temporal, and spatial context” (Klinkenberg, 2007). It is a new integrated academic field that has a diverse range of applications (Konecny, 2002). The applications of geomatics are in the fields of precision farming, urban planning, facilities management, business geographics, security and intelligence, automated mapping, real estate management, environmental management, land administration, telecommunication, automated machine control, civil engineering and so on. Even applications of some devices such as cellular phones, RFID (radio frequency identification) tags and video surveillance cameras can be regarded as part of Geospatial Technologies, since they use location information (Klinkenberg, 2007). So, graduates of Geospatial Technologies have the opportunity to pursue varying and challenging careers. Apart from offering graduates challenging career paths (both indoor and outdoor); geomatics exposes them to modern, cutting edge and innovative information system and technologies. The connection between Geospatial Technologies and information and communication system and technology runs deep.
No longer available |Learn more- (Author)
- 2014(Publication Date)
- Academic Studio(Publisher)
________________________ WORLD TECHNOLOGIES ________________________ Chapter- 5 Geographic Information System A geographic information system (GIS) , geographical information system , or geospatial information system is any system that captures, stores, analyzes, manages and presents data that are linked to location(s). In the simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography, statistical analysis and database technology. GIS may be used in archaeology, geography, cartography, remote sensing, land surveying, public utility management, natural resource management, precision agriculture, photogrammetry, urban planning, emergency management, navigation, aerial video and localized search engines. As GIS can be thought of as a system, it digitally creates and manipulates spatial areas that may be jurisdictional, purpose or application oriented for which a specific GIS is developed. Hence, a GIS developed for an application, jurisdiction, enterprise, or purpose may not be necessarily interoperable or compatible with a GIS that has been developed for some other application, jurisdiction, enterprise, or purpose. What goes beyond a GIS is a spatial data infrastructure (SDI), a concept that has no such restrictive boundaries. Therefore, in a general sense, the term describes any information system that integrates, stores, edits, analyzes, shares and displays geographic information for informing decision making. GIS applications are tools that allow users to create interactive queries (user-created searches), analyze spatial information, edit data, maps and present the results of all these operations. Geographic information science is the science underlying the geographic concepts, applications and systems. GIS can be studied in degree and certificate programs at many universities.
- Sardana, H R(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- Daya Publishing House(Publisher)
In particular, the evolution of geographic information systems (GIS), the global positioning system (GPS), and remote sensing (RS) This ebook is exclusively for this university only. Cannot be resold/distributed. technologies has enabled the collection and analysis of field data in ways that were not possible before the advent of the computer. Remote sensing part is not being taken as it may not be covered under one lecture and only GIS and GPS are being presented and discussed. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) GIS applications enable the storage, management, and analysis of large quantities of spatially distributed data. These data are associated with their respective geographic features. For example, water quality data would be associated with a sampling site, represented by a point. Data on crop yields might be associated with fields or experimental plots, represented on a map by polygons There are several definitions to define GIS: “A system which uses a spatial database to provide answers to queries of a geographical nature.” (Good Child, 1985). “A powerful set of tools for collecting, storing, retrieving at will, transferring and displaying spatial data from the real world.” (Burrough, 1987). “An organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographical data and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze and display all forms of geographically referenced information” (Environmental System Research Institute, 1990). Thus, GIS is a combination of hardware, software, database and personnel and it needs to have geographical area over and for which pattern and trends of the selected phenomena has to be shown and queries are to be made. Once geographic information of any kind is translated into the digital form in a GIS, it becomes easy to copy, edit, analyze, manipulate and transmit it.
- M. V. Rao, V. Suresh Babu, Suman Chandra, G. Ravindra Chary, M. V. Rao, V. Suresh Babu, Suman Chandra, G. Ravindra Chary(Authors)
- 2015(Publication Date)
- Apple Academic Press(Publisher)
The applications of space technology are rapidly advancing in land resources inventory, mapping and generation of databases on a regular basis for better planning, management, monitoring and implementing the land use plans at large scales. Satellite remote sensing data from LANDSAT-ETM+, IRS-IC, IRS-ID, IRS-P6, Cartosat-I, Cartosat-II, Quickbird and Google are avail-able for generation of spatial database on land resources for various applications. GIS techniques are playing an increasing role in facilitating integration of multi-layer spatial information with statistical attribute data to arrive at alternate develop-mental scenarios in sustainable management of land resources. The integration of spatial data and their combined analysis could be performed through GIS and simple database query systems to complex analysis and decision support systems could be developed for effective land resource management at watershed level. In this chapter, the scope and potential applications of Geospatial Technologies in inventory, mapping and management of land resource for land use planning and food security have been discussed with few examples at watershed level. 7.2 Geospatial Technologies IN LAND RESOURCE INVENTORY AND MAPPING Several Geospatial Technologies including remote sensing from terrestrial, aerial, and satellite platforms with various sensors. GPS and GIS are actively being used in land resource inventory and mapping. Geospatial Technologies in land resource inventory and mapping particularly in digital terrain database generation, hydro-logical analysis, landform mapping, soil resource inventory and land use systems analysis have been discussed below. 7.2.1 DIGITAL TERRAIN DATABASE GENERATION Geospatial technology play significant role in development of digital terrain da-tabase and digital terrain modeling at watershed level in replacing the qualitative and nominal characterization of topography.
- Malcolm Williams, W Paul Vogt, Malcolm Williams, W Paul Vogt, Author(Authors)
- 2011(Publication Date)
- SAGE Publications Ltd(Publisher)
442 21 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Spatial Analysis E l i z a b e t h G r i f f i t h s Over the past two decades, the notion that ‘space matters’ has gained popularity in social science scholarship across a broad array of disciplines. This is due in part to increased access to geographically-referenced data and the introduction of user-friendly Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software packages enabling manageable and efficient computerized desktop mapping. While quantitative geographers were at the forefront in employing GIS to capture, analyze, illus-trate, and model geographic data beginning in the 1980s, the idea that geography matters was gaining a foothold in other social sciences as well – disciplines tra-ditionally less focused on explicitly conceptualizing and modeling geographic space. Scholars in anthropology, political science, public health, sociology, social work, and urban planning, among other disciplines, now rely upon GIS technol-ogy and spatial analytic techniques as both methodological and theoretical tools for investigating and understanding the social world (Berry and Baybeck, 2005; Downey, 2003; Entwisle et al., 1997; Kwan, 2007; McLafferty and Grady, 2005; Nyerges and Green, 2000; Queralt and Witte, 1998). The National Center for Geographic Information Analysis (NCGIA) defines GIS as ‘a system of hardware, software, and procedures designed to support the capture, management, manipulation, analysis, modeling, and display of spatially referenced data for solving complex planning and management problems’ (Heikkila, 1998: 351). This definition, like the ones endorsed by other scholars and organizations (ESRI, 1990; Levine and Landis, 1989; Marble, 1990), tends
eBook - PDF- John A Agnew, David N Livingstone, John A Agnew, David N Livingstone, SAGE Publications Ltd(Authors)
- 2011(Publication Date)
- SAGE Publications Ltd(Publisher)
Some sensors are designed to detect specific properties of the Earth’s sur-face or atmosphere, such as green vegetation or ocean temperature, while others are designed for more general mapping purposes. In the latter category are an increasing number of sensors mapping the Earth from space at spatial resolutions finer than 1 meter. Remote sensing now provides much of the raw information needed by the GIS enter-prise. A wide range of properties, from rain-fall to population density, can be inferred from the outputs of various sensors – in the case of population density, for example, interesting work using the night-time illumi-nation of the Earth’s surface has shown that it is possible to derive reliable estimates of the distribution of population density within countries from this source. Nevertheless there will always be important properties that cannot be reliably derived from imagery, including the names of places; and properties that can only be estimated with unacceptably low levels of accuracy, such as average income or ethnicity. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is also commonly lumped with GIS and remote sensing as an important geographical infor-mation technology. Based on a constellation of Earth-orbiting satellites, each of which fol-lows a known orbit and emits precisely timed signals, GPS allows position to be determined to better than 10 meters with simple, inexpen-sive devices (and to much greater accuracy with more expensive devices). GPS receivers can be incorporated into mobile phones, lap-tops, and even wristwatches, and can be used to track moving objects, including animals and people. It has revolutionized traditional practices in surveying and map-making, and has become indispensable in fieldwork. GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS LABORATORY 131 Early GIS was motivated by the need for an efficient set of tools that could aid research-ers and others in manipulating and analyzing a body of geographical knowledge.
- Prasad, N V(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- Daya Publishing House(Publisher)
– Chapter 4 – GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) Geographical Information Systems (GIS) 1. Introduction A Geographic (or Geographical) information Systems (GIS) is a computer based information system used to digitally represent and analyse the geographic features present on the Earth’ surface and the events (non-spatial attributes linked to the geography under study) that taking place on it. In a narrow definition, a geographical information system (GIS) is a computer system for the input, manipulation, storage and output of digital spatial data. In a more broad definition it is a digital system for the acquisition, management, analysis and visualization of spatial data for the purposes of planning, administering and monitoring the natural and socioeconomic environment. It represents a digital model of geography in its widest sense (Figure 4.1). Figure 4.1: Concept of a Geographic Information System. Geoinformation: Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, GIS and GPS 600 | A GIS consists of a system for data input in vector form, in raster form and in alphanumeric form, a CPU containing the programs for data processing, data storage and data analysis and of facilities for visualization and hard copy output of the data. In a broad sense, a GIS includes the data, which are managed by an administration or a unit conducting a project for the purposes of data inventory, data analysis and data presentation for administrative support or for decision support. The term “GIS” seems to be difficult to define because it means different things to different people in different disciplines. Definitions of GIS range from the very technical to the simplistic, from functional to abstract, detailing the components or describing the elements. Example definitions of GIS is given bellow: P “A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on Earth.
- Andreas Vassilopoulos, Niki Evelpidou, Oliver Bender, Alenka Krek, Andreas Vassilopoulos, Niki Evelpidou, Oliver Bender, Alenka Krek(Authors)
- 2008(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
The role of geoinformation technologies in geocultural landscape research 19 5.8 Spatial modelling A spatial model can depict the expected result from a decision or set of decisions. A GIS includes spatial models or numerical analy-sis methods to enable more complex analysis. Spatial modelling used for predictions and for developing a decision making system is one of the most demanding analytical uses of a GIS. Engineers and planners can evaluate alternate solutions to problems by ‘what if’ type of ques-tions. Spatial simulations are such examples. They involve complex procedures and models. Spatial modelling often represents a study’s final stage, during which the researcher depicts, through simulation, the upcoming state, and has a number of applications in environmental study and analysis. The most common data set used in spatial modelling is the digital ter-rain model, useful for the creation of digitised contour lines, hypsomet-ric and trigonometric points. Through simulation, the altimeter value for every point of the map based on the existent elements can be calculated. On the following picture (figure 13), the results of a spatial modelling analysis in order to develop a decision making system are shown, repre-senting the Psarianos watershed in Crete island (Greece) in case the dam breaks (Evelpidou et al. 2007). These kinds of applications are dynamic and time dependant. The quality of the result is only as good as the model, but the ability to test solutions before decisions have to be made usually provides very useful information to the decision makers. This type of use of a GIS will evolve over time, as the GIS is implemented and used. Decision making: cf. chapter “The workflow of a historic landscape analysis using GIS”, section 3.2, of Bender. Digital Terrain Model (DTM): cf. chapter “Spatial interpola-tion and terrain analysis” of Hofierka.
eBook - PDFSpatial Statistics
GeoSpatial Information Modeling and Thematic Mapping
- Mohammed A. Kalkhan(Author)
- 2011(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
1 1 Geospatial Information Technology Remote.sensing.systems.can.only.offer.the.following.relationship.between. spatial.and.spectral.resolution:.A.high.spatial.resolution.is.associated.with. a.low.spectral.resolution.and.vice.versa . .That.means.that.a.system.with.a. high.spectral.resolution.can.only.offer.a.medium.or.low.spatial.resolution . . Therefore,.it.is.either.necessary.to.find.compromises.between.the.different. resolutions.according.to.the.individual.application.or.to.utilize.alternative. methods.of.data.acquisition . To.explore.and.explain.how.one.can.extrapolate.field.data.(i .e., .vegetation,. soil,.and.environmental).across.a.landscape.scale.using.geospatial.informa-tion.auxiliary.data.such.as.remotely.sensed.data.(e .g., .Landsat.Multispectral. Scanner. (MSS). and. Thematic. Mapper. (TM5),. Landsat. TM-7. Enhanced. Thematic.Mapper.plus.(ETM+)),.IKONS,.and.SPOT),.geographic.information. systems.(GIS).raster.data,.and.the.digital.elevation.model.(DEM).to.describe. the.spatial.variability.observed.in.the.field.data . .In.order.to.develop.these. geospatial.models,.it.is.important.that.we.are.able.to.extract.the.information. we.need.from.the.remotely.sensed.imagery,.GIS,.and.global.positioning.sys-tems.(GPS),.then.combine.this.information.with.field.data.to.do.the.modeling. of.interest.(Figure 1 .1). .Once.we.have.completed.the.modeling.phase,.the.last. thing.that.we.need.to.do.is.to.reconstruct.the.spatial.model.in.ARCINFO,. ARCVIEW,.or.ARCGIS.for.display . .The.following.are.some.useful.informa-tion.on.geospatial.information.data.and.procedures.that.will.help.us.accom-plish.this.goal . Remotely Sensed Data The. first. remote. sensing. satellite. was. launched. on. July. 23,. 1972,. and. was. called.ERTS-1.(Earth.Resource.Technology.Satellite) . .It.was.an.experimental. system.designed.to.test.the.feasibility.of.collecting.Earth.resource.informa-tion.(e .g., .land.cover,.land.use,.Earth.environments) .
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