Professional Documents
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1.0
1.1
Introduction
Definitions
Information systems help us manage
what we know by making it easy to
organize and store, access and
retrieve, manipulate and synthesise and
apply knowledge. We use a variety of
terms to describe what we know and
the terms include: data, information,
evidence, knowledge and wisdom.
Data
Data consists of numbers, texts or symbols, which are some sense neutral and almost
context-free. Raw geographic facts, for example, temperature at a specific time and
location. Data is treated as streams of bits; a crucial requirement to preserve integrity
of the dataset. Data are assembled together in a database.
Information
In a narrow sense, information can be treated as devoid of meaning, and therefore
essentially synonymous with data. However, information is differentiated from data by
implying some degree of selection, organization and preparation for particular
purposes. Information is data serving some purpose or data that have been given
some degree of interpretation.
Information is often very costly to produce, but once digitised, it is cheap to reproduce
and distribute.
Some technical reasons why geographic information is special:
It is multi-dimensional, because two co-ordinates must be specified to define
location, whether x and y or latitude and longitude.
Introduction
It is voluminous
It is represented at different levels of spatial resolution
Can be represented in different ways inside a computer; how this is don
influences the ease of analysis
It is often projected onto a plane surface
Requires many method of analysis
Can be time consuming to analyse
The process of updating is complex and expensive
The display of a map requires the retrieval of large amounts of data.
Knowledge
Knowledge does not arise from simply having access to large amounts of information.
It can be considered as information to which value has been added by interpretation
based on a particular context, experience and purpose. Codified and tacit knowledge
(tacit knowledge is often the source of competitive advantage). Knowledge is different
from information in 3-ways:
Knowledge entails a knower. Information exists independently, but knowledge is
intimately related to people.
Knowledge is harder to detach from the knower than information; shipping,
receiving or transferring it between people or quantifying it are much more
difficult than for people.
Knowledge requires much more assimilation; we digest it rather than hold it.
While we may hold conflicting information, we hardly hold conflicting knowledge
Evidence
Evidence is considered as half-way between information and knowledge. It is best
regarded as a multiplicity of information from different sources, related to specific
problems and with a consistency that has been validated.
Wisdom (More elusive to define)
Wisdom is used in the context of decisions made or advice given which is
disinterested, based on all evidence and knowledge available, but given with some
understanding of likely consequences. Almost invariably, it is highly individualised
rather than being easy to create and share within a group.
System
A system is a set or arrangement of things or components so related or connected as
to form a whole (e.g., education or computer system). There are two types of systems:
natural and fabricated. The fabricated systems must be built by people, while natural
systems exist naturally, for example, the human system and the solar system. It is
presumed that an information system wouldnt be built unless it served a purpose. The
purpose of an information system is to collect, process and exchange information
among business workers.
Information System
An information system is an arrangement of components that interact to support the
operations, management and decision making of an organization. Information systems
exist in all organizations. These systems are usually implemented without the aid of the
computer. Although manual systems get the job done, they are often inefficient and
error prone. Therefore manual systems are frequently computerised. Computerization
help amplify the potential of the information system by increasing efficiency, reducing
errors and increasing effectiveness.
Introduction
Components of GIS
As a system, GIS has its well-defined component parts. The figure below illustrates the
six component parts of GIS.
Introduction
SOFTWARE
PEOPLE
DATA
NETWORK
HARDWARE
RESOURCES
Network (the most fundamental today), enables rapid communication and sharing of
digital information. GIS today relies heavily on the Internet (and Intranets). The Internet
began its life as a US Department of defence Communications project called Advanced
Research Project Agency Network (APARNET) in 1972 A researcher at CERN
developed the hypertext capability that underlies todays world wide web (the www).
The histories of GIS and the Internet have been heavily intertwined.
Hardware is the device that the user interacts with directly in carrying out GIS
operations by typing, pointing, clicking or speaking, and which returns information by
displaying it on the devices screen or generating meaningful sounds. Traditionally the
device sat on an office desktop, but todays user has much more freedom, because
GIS functions can be delivered through laptops, Personal Data Assistants (PDA), invehicle devices and even cellular phones. Other hardware devices include printer,
plotter, scanner, digitiser, MODEM, UPS, speaker mouse etc.
Software runs locally in udders machine. It is a package bought from one of GIS
vendors such as ESRI (Arcview/ArcInfo), Intergraph (Geomedia), MapInfo (MapInfo),
Clarke University (IDRISI), GRASS (GRASS), CADCORP (SIS) and ER Mapper (ER
Mapper). No single software package can handle all GIS functions; hence major GIS
software vendors sell many distinct software products.
Data (Database) consists of digital representation of selected aspects of some specific
areas of Earths surface built to serve some problem solving or scientific purpose.
Management (organization) procedures includes lines of reporting, control points
and other mechanisms for ensuring that GIS activities stay within budget, maintain high
quality and generally meet the needs of the organization. It includes development of
standards, access controls, database administration, quality assurance and system
security.
People are important, because they design, program, maintain, supply data and
interpret results. The people in GIS will have various skills, depending on the role they
play. Almost all will have basic knowledge required to work with geospatial data.
Knowledge on such topics as data sources, scale, accuracy and software products.
The people will have titles as GIS Manager, GIS administrator, System manager, GIS
analyst, GIS programmer and data entry personnel.