Synopses & Reviews
Curious about GIS?
Organizing a GIS?
Here's the book you need!
Geographic information system, or GIS, is a powerful technology that has been called "geography on steroids." This book contains what you need to know on mapping terminology and digital mapping, how to locate geographic features and analyze their patterns, and how to generate travel directions, customer locations lists, and much more with GIS.
GIS takes a village know all the hardware and software necessary to collect, analyze, and manipulate GIS data
Just for map mavens explore the difference between 2D and 3D maps, create a map, or manage multiple maps
What the data mean analyze patterns that appear in maps and interpret the results
Think spatially recognize how spatial factors relate to geographic data
On the grid define and locate geographic objects on the grid
The earth is not flat accurately portray geographic features with map projections
Technological duct tape discover the many uses of GIS for business, the military, city planning, emergency services, land management, and more
Design a GIS determine what your organization needs, do appropriate analyses, and plan your system
Open the book and find:
How to get paper maps into your computer
Different ways to measure distance
How to organize your spatial data
What raster and vector mean to a cartographer
How to choose a GIS software vendor
How GIS can help you determine appropriate land use
Dozens of applications for GIS queries and analyses
How to create animated GIS output
Synopsis
- Today's GIS technology enables realtors, contractors, engineers, surveyors, urban planners, GPS mobile device developers, and others to source leads, create new products, and open new business opportunities
- This guide approaches GIS technology the fun and easy way and makes it understandable for the nonprofessional
- Avoids equations, computer codes, and overwhelming detail and instead provides a clear explanation as to how GIS technology captures, stores, counts, characterizes, integrates, analyzes, and displays data about the earth
- Discusses spatial and mapping concepts, the various components of GIS systems, and the process of designing and implementing a GIS system
Synopsis
An easy-to-understand reference for navigating through geographic information systems (GIS)
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 system
You'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
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.
Synopsis
An easy-to-understand reference for navigating through geographic information systems (GIS)
This guide avoids equations, computer codes, and overwhelming detail and instead provides a clear explanation as to how GIS technology captures, stores, counts, characterizes, integrates, analyzes, and displays data about the earth. Readers will benefit from its understandable approach to topics such as spatial and mapping concepts, the various components of GIS systems, and the process of designing and implementing a GIS system.
Michael N. DeMers (Las Cruces, NM) is Department Head of Geology at New Mexico State University. He is also the CEO of DeMers Geographics, a company dedicated to providing GIS materials for educational purposes.
Synopsis
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 system
You’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!
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.
Synopsis
GIS For Dummiesapproaches GIS the fun and easy way, targeting IT managers, IT staff and business owners looking to implement a GIS system, those interested in creating a GIS, map hobbyists, engineers/surveyors, and those studying or planning to study GIS. The book doesn't overwhelm with details, equations, or computer codes. Instead the author interweaves the ideas of geographic inquiry and spatial discovery and examining the computerized world of the digital GIS databases. After discussing spatial and mapping concepts, the author sequentially addresses the components of GIS systems. A final chapter spotlights the process of designing and implementing a GIS system in organizations.
Part I – The Geography in GIS
Part II – Geography goes Digital
Part III: Data Preprocessing
Part IV: Retrieving, counting, and characterizing geography
Part V: Analyzing geographic patterns
Part VII: Cartography
Part VIII: GIS in Organizations
Part IX: Resources
About the Author
Michael N. DeMers is an Associate Professor of Geography with more than 25 years of GIS experience. He is also CEO of DeMers Geographics, a provider of educational resources for GIS students and educators.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1Part I: GIS: Geography on Steroids 7
Chapter 1: Seeing the Scope of GIS 9
Chapter 2: Recognizing How Maps Show Information 23
Chapter 3: Reading, Analyzing, and Interpreting Maps 39
Part II: Geography Goes Digital 57
Chapter 4: Creating a Conceptual Model 59
Chapter 5: Understanding the GIS Data Models 73
Chapter 6: Keeping Track of Data Descriptions 93
Chapter 7: Managing Multiple Maps 109
Chapter 8: Gathering and Digitizing Geographic Data 117
Part III: Retrieving, Counting, and Characterizing Geography 135
Chapter 9: Finding Information in Raster Systems 137
Chapter 10: Finding Features in Vector Systems 147
Chapter 11: Searching for Geographic Objects, Distributions, and Groups 65
Part IV: Analyzing Geographic Patterns 181
Chapter 12: Measuring Distance 183
Chapter 13: Working with Statistical Surfaces 199
Chapter 14: Exploring Topographical Surfaces 213
Chapter 15: Working with Networks 225
Chapter 16: Comparing Multiple Maps 239
Chapter 17: Map Algebra and Model Building 253
Part V: GIS Output and Application 277
Chapter 18: Producing Cartographic Output 279
Chapter 19: Generating Non-Cartographic Output 293
Chapter 20: GIS in Organizations 301
Part VI: The Part of Tens 315
Chapter 21: Ten GIS Software Vendors 317
Chapter 22: Ten Questions to Ask Potential Vendors 329
Chapter 23: Ten GIS Data Sources 333
Index 343