PowerPoint on Geographic Information Systems for Summer 2014 semester.

2. “A geographic information system is a computer system for
recording, managing, analyzing, and displaying geographic
data” (O’Sullivan, Rassel, & Taliaferro, 2011).
GIS uses attribute data, which are nonspatial data that provide
additional information about the geographic data.
GIS uses two types of data: Raster and Vector. “Raster data
use individual cells to create an image. This data is used in
satellite images, digital photography, and aerial views of land.
Vector data use points, lines, and polygons to create images.
Vector data display streets and roads, and vector polygons
display areas with boundaries such as cities, counties, and
other jurisdictions. Program managers in the public sector use
vector data most often” (O’Sullivan, Rassel, & Taliaferro, 2011).

3. Creating spatial data for GIS is a labor intensive process and very
expensive as well. This can present a problem for nonprofit and
other nongovernmental organizations. However, organizations such
as the U.S. Bureau of Census, as well as other geodata centers make
their products available for free over the Internet or by compact
disc.
“GIS data are useful in identifying property information. Local land
use and zoning ordinances require that changes to property be
recorded with the register of deeds” (O’Sullivan, Rassel, &
Taliaferro, 2011).
One of the choices that one has when using GIS is to decide what
area one can examine. “Data displays for a large area blur specific
details while too much specificity may cause you to miss important
characteristics” (O’Sullivan, Rassel, & Taliaferro, 2011). An example
would be looking at data that is confined to one small area, one may
not see similar activity in a neighboring area. Social conditions might
not stop at an artificial boundary such as a neighborhood, city, or
county limit.

4. Desktop GIS have the capability to design maps easily to show
relationships; however, one should understand the shortcomings of
maps. All maps represent their author’s point of view.
“Maps are imperfect because they are two-dimensional
representations of the three-dimensional spherical earth (O’Sullivan,
Rassel, & Taliaferro, 2011).
The transition from earth to map is called a projection, in which
mapping utilizes many projections, all of which seek in some way to
create a balance between preserving shape and distance.
Generalization is another issue with GIS as well. “Generalizing map
data means to smooth or leave out certain levels of detail: too much
detail and the map may be difficult to read and therefore not useful”
(O’Sullivan, Rassel, & Taliaferro, 2011). Although, if one were to include little
detail, important characteristics may be deleted. Generalizing is a choice
that the individual need to make based on what they think is important.

5. Having the ability to create and use maps is the backbone of a GIS. Program managers have a
huge platform of possibilities relating to GIS implementation at their fingertips. When
discussing GIS in the context of research, managers can use data about spatial attributes as
independent variables to look at relationships to program outcomes as dependent variables.
Maps of earthquake shaking hazards are used to create
and update building codes in the U.S.
Source: http://www.esri.com/what-is-
gis/overview#overview_panel

6. “Pin mapping is the electronic version of sticking pins into a map and looking for visual
patterns in relation to their geographic locations” (O’Sullivan, Rassel, & Taliaferro, 2011).
An example of what a pin map was designed after is shown on the right. This particular pin
map illustrates where the heaviest crime rates are in the US. This pin map is closely related
to Hot Spot Mapping, which will be discussed in the next slide.
Source:
http://irevolution.net/2009/03/16/crime-mapping-
analytics/
A digital GIS pin map Source:
http://www.caliper.com/maptitude/gis_softwar
e/default.htm

7. “Hot spots are incidents or points of activity that have been smoothed to create density areas. The points
could represent crimes, incidents of disease, fatal automobile accidents, or any other activity that has a
specific address” (O’Sullivan, Rassel, & Taliaferro, 2011).
Crime hot spots generated from vandalism data for
Lincoln, Nebraska, that have not been normalized. Hot
spots are shown in bright red and located in downtown
Lincoln, an area with a large population. Cold spots, or
areas of low crime, are shown in dark blue and are
located in suburban areas.
Source:
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/
0405/ss_crimestats1of2.html
Analysis of the spatial dispersion of crimes by police beat
in Redlands, California, shows that crimes in the western
portion of the city follow major transportation networks
in the area.
Source:
http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/
0405/ss_crimestats2of2.html

8. “Density mapping is used for mapping activity that is continuous in a geographic area”
(O’Sullivan, Rassel, & Taliaferro, 2011).
Performing density analysis with
ArcGIS Spatial Analyst.
Source:
http://www.esri.com/software/ar
cgis/extensions/spatialanalyst/key
-features/density
The density function
distributes a measured
quantity of an input point
layer throughout a
landscape to produce a
continuous surface.
Available density mapping
tools include
Kernel Density
Line Density
Point Density

9. GIS functions permit program managers to design maps to study important social and economic
characteristics of their service areas, as well as put together the maps in different ways.
“Managers can use GIS information along with knowledge of program goals and objectives to
plan, manage, and evaluate programs” (O’Sullivan, Rassel, & Taliaferro, 2011).
Map and model potential hazards, determine their potential
impacts, visualize critical vulnerabilities, and plan for special
events.
Source:
http://solutions.arcgis.com/em
ergency-management/

10. © N.TANCREDIPHOTOGRAPHY, 2013
 With specialized tools, you can incorporate CAD
data into ArcGIS for your analysis and continue to
access and deliver your data in a CAD format.
 With ArcGIS for AutoCAD, you can
view live GIS maps and display symbology of all
underlying GIS data structures in CAD.
Include GIS basemaps and analysis results in
your CAD designs.
 Define the coordinate system within AutoCAD to
automatically project maps on the fly without
transforming CAD drawings or converting GIS
data.
Source:
http://www.esri.com/industries/civil_
ngineering/business/cad_integration
Arc News: Building Smart from the Ground Up
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/fall11article
s/building-smart-from-the-ground-up.html

11. The following are sources and links that explain more about the benefits of GIS
technology:
O'Sullivan, E., Rassel, G. R., & Taliaferro, J. D. (2011). Practical Research Methods for
Nonprofit and Public Administrators. Glenview, Illinois, USA: Pearson Education,
Inc.
http://www.esri.com/library/brochures/pdfs/crime-analysis.pdf A PDF from ESRI that
explains in greater detail the benefits of using GIS in law enforcement.
http://www.esri.com/industries/public-safety/emergency-disaster-management Links to
PDF files from ESRI that explains in greater detail the benefits of using GIS in emergency
management.
http://www.esri.com/industries/public-safety/emergency-disaster-
management/brochure-flyer-whitepaper The following are links to white papers from
ESRI which cover a range of emergency management topics.
http://www.esri.com/industries/public-safety/emergency-disaster-management/demos
Videos relating to GIS use for public safety and emergency management.
http://www.connectedworldmag.com/latestNews.aspx?id=NEWS130501061151003&utm_
source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Esri-
News+%28ESRI.com+-+News%29 Social media meets emergency management