ABOUT GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM

1. Introduction to GIS
Lecture Notes for Undergraduate
Students
Ambo University

3. Definition and History of GIS
• GIS = Geographic Information System, a tool
to capture, store, analyze, and visualize spatial
data.
• History:
• 1960s: First GIS developed in Canada (CGIS).
• 1980s: Commercial GIS software emerged.
• Today: Web GIS (Google Maps, Google Earth,
etc.).
• Everyday example: Using Google Maps for
navigation.

5. Elements of GIS
• Key components of GIS:
• Hardware (computers, GPS devices)
• Software (ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth)
• Data (satellite images, maps, GPS data)
• People (GIS analysts, students, decision-
makers)
• Methods (techniques, workflows, procedures)

7. Types of Geographic Features
• Geographic features in GIS can be represented
as:
• Point: cities, wells, schools
• Line: rivers, roads, power lines
• Polygon: administrative boundaries, lakes,
land parcels
• Raster: satellite imagery, digital elevation
models (DEMs)

9. Questions a GIS Can Answer
• Examples of GIS questions:
• What is at a location? (Identify features)
• Where is something? (Find locations by
attribute)
• What has changed? (Change detection over
time)
• How far/How many? (Proximity and counting
features)
• What if...? (Simulation and modeling
scenarios)

11. Integration of GIS and Remote
Sensing
• Remote Sensing (RS) = Data collection through
satellites/aircraft.
• GIS = Storage, analysis, and integration of
spatial data.
• Together:
• RS provides continuous earth observation
data.
• GIS integrates RS data with field data, maps,
and statistics.
• Example: Land cover change detection in

13. Why GIS is Important
• GIS importance in Natural Resource
Management:
• Soil and water conservation planning
• Monitoring groundwater quality (e.g., Lake
Hawassa Basin)
• Deforestation and forest cover change
detection
• Urban growth and land use planning
• Disaster risk management and climate studies

15. Applications of GIS
• GIS applications across sectors:
• Agriculture: crop monitoring, soil fertility
mapping
• Forestry: deforestation monitoring,
biodiversity mapping
• Water resources: watershed management,
water quality mapping
• Urban planning: infrastructure, transport,
housing
• Disaster management: flood risk mapping,