What is GIS ?

Chieko Maene Richard Daley Library Univ. of Illinois at Chicago cmaene@uic.edu

What is GIS ?

In short: computerized mapping software Formal definition

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computerized database management system for capture, storage, retrieval, manipulation, analysis and display of spatial (i.e. locationally defined) data

Large river as a polygon

Small creeks as lines

What is GIS/Geospatial Data ?

Basic concept

GIS represents the real world using three types of geometry

Populated areas as points (dots)

Points Lines Polygons / Areas Raster - graphic images

OR cells

GIS Ex: Patterns

Socio-economic

2000 Census data Unit Census Tract Over the community area boundaries

% families below poverty level

WEST & EAST GARFIELD PARK AUSTIN FULLER PARK & GRAND BOULEVARD WASHINGTON HEIGHT

NORTH LAWNDALE

NEW CITY WEST ENGLEWOOD ENGLEWOOD RIVERDALE

GIS Ex: Patterns business locations

Business data InfoUSA, Dun and Bradstreet, etc.

Classic example:

Geocoding Data

John Snow, Maps of Cholera cases in London, 1854

GIS Ex: Patterns historical/trend

Trend

Changes over time using historical (time-series) data

GIS Ex: Pattern - hotspot

Where are the hotspots?

Feb-March 2005 Calculate density = result: Hotspots Does CTA Green line run through so-called bad neighborhoods?

GIS Ex: Relationship

Association

Demography x Libraries Are there enough libraries to serve local residents?

Population density and locations of the Chicago Public Libraries

GIS Ex. Association ?

More than 80 percent of homes built before 1978 contain lead paint

% families below poverty

Crime hotspots

Child lead poisoning

GIS Ex: Network transportation

Commuting flows

One-hour travel zone using public transportation (bus) from Northwest neighborhood

GIS Ex. Community Assets

Mapping

How things are closely located? Community assets & landmarks

Schools Parks Housing projects Hospitals Community organizations Churches

GIS in Chicago (example)

City of Chicago GIS

City of Chicago provides various geographic information including maps (PDF), aerial photographs, building footprints, parcel lots (through interactive mapping sites), electronic map data (GIS data), etc. www.cityofchicago.org/gis

GIS in Chicago (example)

NIPC Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission http://www.nipc.org/ Produces various region-wide datasets

Transportation Boundaries Land use etc.

Chicago community areas(1990) CTA rail lines and stations (1995) NIPC land use inventory in 12 categories (1990) METRA rail lines and stations (1996) Major roads(1990) Municipal boundaries(1997) PLSS, township, range, section & quarter sections NIPC geographic registration points(ARC/INFO only) interstates and interchange configurations(1997)

GIS in Chicago (example)

Ex: Center for Neighborhood Technology, http://www.cnt.org/

CITYNEWS early warning system http://www.newschicago.org/ Green Mapping http://www.greenmapping.org/ Free large region-wide GIS data download site Neighborhood D-space http://neighbor-space.org/main.htm

GIS in Chicago (example)

Ex: National Neighborhood Indicator Partnership, http://www2.urban.org/nnip/

Chicago: New Communities Program http://www.newcommunities.or g/ GIS maps are heavily used to prove their points!

Why GIS ?

GIS adds space to research dimensions

Geographical significance & patterns

Does location make any difference ?

i.e. Real estate location, location, location.. i.e. Migration patterns? How did the disease spread?

Are there any patterns ?

Geographical relationships

Are A and B in this location related ?

i.e. Crime rate and average housing value

Prediction & Information management

How many people will be affected by flooding ? Create a list of residents affected by it using GIS -

Who uses GIS ?

All business sectors & disciplines

Public: Federal state local governments Regulated: utilities, telecomm, transportation Private CUPPA (urban planning & public admin.) Social Science (anthropology, geog, sociology) Public Health potentially more see the list

In higher education ex. UIC

Where can we access GIS ?

At UIC computer labs

CUPPA and Anthoropology department See more at our GIS at UIC website ESRI products available at UIC Free GIS software (such as, ArcExplorer, AccuGlobe, QGIS, JUMP, uDIG) Web map sites & services by governments & private National maps, topozone.com, etc.

Personal desktop

Internet

Free GIS software (OK to install on multiple computers)

ArcExplorer Java version (ESRI)

Pros: good for beginners: with basic functions Pros: better migration to full ESRI GIS software Cons: functions are limited Cons: sometimes unstable (java-base)

AccuGlobe (DDTI)

Pros: has more functions than ArcExplorer Cons: ..but still not enough for advanced users Cons: new version (2007 ed.) is coming this fall

Free GIS software (cont.)

Google Earth

To view and visualize data in 3D To view 3D Earth, Moon, Jupiter, Venus and Mars Good to view US government data (SDTS format)

World Wind (NASA)

USGS DLGV32 (Free version of Global Mapper)

uDig & QGIS (Quantum GIS)

To view data in various formats not for beginners

To spatially analyze data advanced users only!

GRASS

How to access GIS/geospatial data ?

Ask Us: UIC Library Map Section

Archival geospatial data collection

ESRI licensed Data & Maps (UIC user only) US Government data Illinois/NIPC licensed data (UIC user only)

Web geospatial data resources

Basic geospatial data is available via online Visit our website

GIS Geospatial World USA IL/Chicago - Census

Remember: any data with locational information (i.e. address, zipcode, districts) can be mapped in GIS

How to learn more about GIS ?

Option 1 (recommended) Take semester-wide GIS courses

Geography program (Anthropology)

Introduction to GIS get to know ArcGIS Raster analysis with GIS Introduction to GIS get to know ArcGIS

Urban Planning program (CUPPA)

Option 2 Take free online GIS courses

Visit our GIS at UIC website

ESRI Virtual Campus (visit this ACCC site) Free to UIC students and staff

For More Information

Ask Us: UIC Library Map Section

Homepages:

http://maps.lib.uic.edu/ http://www.uic.edu/depts/lib/documents/services/

Email: cmaene@uic.edu