Geographic information systems demystified

Abstract

After forty years of application, geographic information systems (GIS) are emerging as a major technical resource with possibilities that extend to industries and service areas in the public and private domain. The author's interest is to introduce new users to GIS and explain the technical structure and jargon employed in GIS applications. Divided into three parts, the author first explains in easy to understand terms what GIS is, the basics of how it works and the type of data it uses. Part 2 presents the more technical and complex theory of GIS and it's basic components such as the reference model of the Earth, coordinate systems and map projection. Part 3 introduces an overview of GIS data presentations and provides numerous examples of how GIS is being applied to disaster planning, managing natural resources, monitoring public health and safety, transportation systems and homeland security.

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