PGIS Internals
PGIS Internals
GIS allows users to create dynamic maps, perform complex spatial analyses, and identify
patterns, trends, and relationships within the data. It supports data-driven decision-making
across various sectors by enabling a deeper understanding of geographical phenomena.
Data Collection and Management: Handling large volumes of spatial and attribute
data.
Spatial Analysis: Identifying patterns, trends, and relationships within geographic
data.
Visualization: Creating maps, 3D models, and interactive dashboards for better
insights.
Decision Support: Assisting in planning, monitoring, and management processes
Advantages of GIS:
Limitations of GIS:
GIScience helps improve the accuracy, efficiency, and effectiveness of GIS by developing
new techniques, tools, and methods for handling spatial data. It focuses on the theoretical
foundations of mapping, data analysis, and geographic problem-solving.
Advantages of GIScience:
Limitations of GIScience:
Spatial Algorithms: Developing methods to find the fastest routes, best locations, or
identify patterns.
Improving Data Accuracy: Reducing errors during data collection to ensure reliable
results.
Advanced Mapping Techniques: Creating detailed, easy-to-read maps with
advanced visualization features.
3D Modeling: Building 3D models of cities, terrains, and buildings for better analysis
and planning.
Environmental Impact Analysis: Studying the effects of human activities on
ecosystems through advanced spatial analysis.
Capabilities of GIS
Once the data is captured, it must often be edited and corrected to ensure accuracy and
consistency. This process may involve geometric transformations to align the data with
geographic coordinates or rectifying any discrepancies that occur during data collection.
Example:
In agriculture, farmers may use remote sensing to capture soil moisture levels across a field.
This data is then edited to correct for any sensor errors before being used for irrigation
planning.
2.Data Management
After the data is captured, it must be organized and stored. GIS systems typically store data in
tables that link spatial (location) and attribute (descriptive) data. This step ensures that the
data can be accessed, updated, and manipulated efficiently.
Interpolation: Estimating data values for locations where direct measurements are
not available (e.g., predicting temperature in areas between weather stations).
Summarization: Aggregating data, such as calculating average rainfall for each
month across several locations.
Spatial Analysis: Studying the relationships between different geographic features
(e.g., identifying the shortest path between two locations, or analyzing proximity to
landmarks).
Example:
In environmental management, GIS is often used to analyze water quality. By interpolating
data from a network of water monitoring stations, GIS can estimate pollutant levels in
unmonitored areas, helping officials to detect contamination risks.
4.Data Presentation
The final step in GIS is presenting the analyzed data in a clear and accessible format. The
presentation must communicate the analysis results in a way that is understandable to the
target audience. Methods of presentation include:
Maps: Visualizing spatial data, such as showing the distribution of vegetation types in
a national park.
Graphs: Displaying trends or summaries, like a graph showing population growth
over time.
Reports: Detailed documents explaining the analysis and conclusions, such as a
report outlining the results of an environmental impact assessment.
The choice of presentation format depends on the message being conveyed, the audience, and
the most effective way to visually represent the data.
Example:
In disaster response, GIS is used to generate maps that show flood-prone areas based on
recent rainfall data. These maps help emergency responders plan evacuation routes and
allocate resources effectively.
5.Data Integration
Data integration in GIS means bringing together different types of data from various sources
and formats into one system. This helps combine location-based data (spatial) with
descriptive data (non-spatial) to get a fuller understanding of the situation.
By combining different data, GIS allows us to see patterns and relationships that might not be
obvious from just one type of data.
Example:
can be combined to study the effects of climate change on coastal ecosystems. Integrating
these data types helps researchers better understand trends and potential risks, providing a
more complete picture of the issue.
This integration makes it easier to analyze and make decisions based on multiple data sources
at once
6.Real-Time Data Processing
GIS can be used to process and analyze real-time data, which is particularly useful in
applications that require immediate decision-making. This could involve monitoring data that
is constantly being updated, such as traffic flow, weather patterns, or natural disaster
developments.
Example:
In traffic management, real-time data from GPS-equipped vehicles and traffic sensors are
processed to optimize traffic light patterns and manage congestion. This helps improve traffic
flow and reduce delays by adjusting in real-time based on the current conditions.
1. Geospatial Data
Definition:
Geospatial data, also called geo-referenced data, refers to data that contains
geographical information about a specific location.
2. Geoinformation
Definition: Data quality refers to how accurate, complete, and consistent the data is,
which affects its usefulness for decision-making.
Key Characteristics:
o Accuracy: How close the data is to the true or reference value.
o Completeness: Whether all required data is present.
o Consistency: How well the data matches across different sources.
o Timeliness: How current the data is.
4. Metadata
Definition: Metadata is data about data. It describes important details about the
data, like its source, how it was collected, and its accuracy.
Importance: Helps users assess the data's quality, limitations, and relevance before
use.
Example: Metadata could say, "Data collected from satellite imagery between 2018-
2020 with an accuracy of ±5 meters."
A Geographic Field refers to a geographic phenomenon where each point in a specific area
is assigned a unique value that represents some characteristic of that location. For example,
on a map, each point could have a value for temperature, elevation, or population density.
It’s like a mathematical function: for every location in the study area (denoted by coordinates
x, y), a corresponding value, f(x, y), is assigned to describe that specific place. This helps in
understanding how certain characteristics vary across a geographic region
1. Continuous Fields:
o These fields have values that change gradually and smoothly from one point
to another.
o The value at one location is connected to the value at the next location,
creating a smooth transition.
Example:
2. Discrete Fields:
o These fields divide the study area into separate sections, where each section
has a uniform value. The values don't change smoothly; instead, they stay the
same within each specific area.
Example:
1. Nominal Data:
o Nominal data is used to name or label things, and it helps us to categorize
objects, locations, or phenomena. This type of data doesn't have any order,
ranking, or numerical significance. The primary purpose of nominal data is to
identify different groups or categories. Each category is unique, but there is
no inherent hierarchy or value comparison between them.
Example:
2. Ordinal Data:
o Ordinal data refers to data that can be arranged or ranked in a specific order
based on some meaningful criteria. While you can compare the positions of
the data values, you cannot perform mathematical operations like addition,
subtraction, or division on them. The main feature of ordinal data is the
ranking or sequence of values, but the difference between them is not
consistent or meaningful for calculation.
Example:
Ranking in a race:
Think about a race where someone comes 1st, someone comes 2nd, and someone
comes 3rd. You know that 1st is better than 2nd, and 2nd is better than 3rd. But you
can’t say 1st is 10 times better than 2nd because we don’t know how far ahead they
were
3. Interval Data:
o These are quantitative values that allow simple computations like addition
and subtraction. However, they don’t have a true “zero” point, so you can't
multiply or divide these values meaningfully.
Example:
Example 1: Temperature
If it's 10°C and then it becomes 20°C, we know it's 10°C warmer.
But 20°C is not “twice as hot” as 10°C because 0°C is just the point where water
freezes, not the point where there is no heat.
Distance:
Spatiotemporal data models are used to represent both spatial (location-based) and
temporal (time-based) data in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These models help
organize and structure data that changes over time and space. The core idea is to represent
dynamic phenomena such as weather patterns, land use, or traffic flow, which evolve both
spatially and temporally.
The most common representation technique in spatiotemporal data models is the "snapshot"
approach, where a state at a specific point in time is captured. By storing a series of such
snapshots, we can track how changes occur over time. However, this approach is limited, as it
doesn’t fully capture the entire process of change
1. Data Quality Issues: Incomplete or inaccurate data can lead to unreliable results.
2. High Computational Demand: Processing large spatiotemporal datasets requires
significant computational power and resources.
3. Complexity in Object Identification: Defining when an object changes or disappears
can be ambiguous (e.g., weather systems).
4. Temporal Uncertainty: Events might not have precise timestamps, leading to
uncertainty in analysis
Discrete Time:
o Time is divided into specific, fixed units such as seconds, minutes, hours,
days, months, or years. Each time unit is distinct and separate from the
others.
o Example: Measuring daily rainfall, where each reading represents a specific
24-hour period. Each day is treated as a unique time step.
Continuous Time:
o Time is viewed as a continuous flow, with no predefined intervals. This means
for any two points in time, there are infinitely many moments in between.
o Example: Tracking the real-time speed of a moving vehicle, where the
measurement can occur at any fraction of a second.
2. Valid Time and Transaction Time
Linear Time:
o Time is represented as a continuous progression from the past to the present
and into the future. It follows a straight path without any branching.
o Example: Tracking the construction progress of a building over months,
where each month is a step forward in the project.
Branching Time:
o Time can split into multiple possible paths, where different future outcomes
are possible based on specific conditions or decisions.
o Example: In decision-making scenarios like a business strategy, the timeline
branches based on various strategies implemented, such as if the company
decides to launch a new product or not.
Cyclic Time:
o Time is perceived as a repeating cycle, such as the seasons, days of the
week, or annual events.
o Example: Agricultural cycles, where the planting and harvesting seasons
repeat yearly. A workweek cycle where days repeat in a 7-day sequence
(Monday to Sunday).
4. Time Granularity
Time Granularity:
o Refers to the level of detail or precision of time used in data collection or
analysis. The finer the granularity, the more detailed the time intervals.
o Example:
In cadastral applications, time granularity may be daily, because
land transactions often require exact dates.
In geological applications, time granularity could be thousands or
millions of years, such as when studying rock formations or the
Earth's geological history.
Absolute Time:
o Marks a specific point on the time scale. This time is independent of any other
event and is defined by a fixed date and time.
o Example: A historical event, such as a battle occurring on July 4, 1776 at
12:00 PM, is an absolute point in time.
Relative Time:
o Refers to time that is measured in relation to other events. It is based on
comparisons or intervals rather than fixed moments.
o Example: Saying "The project will be completed two weeks later" means
the completion time is defined relative to another event, such as the start date
of the project.
Irregular Tessellations
Irregular tessellations break space into cells that can vary in shape and size, unlike
regular tessellations, which use the same size and shape for all cells.
This flexibility makes them better at representing spatial data more accurately while
using less memory.
While they are more complex than regular tessellations, they help improve efficiency
by adjusting to the data they represent.
A region quadtree is an example of an irregular tessellation. It uses square cells, but instead
of keeping them uniform, it merges adjacent cells with similar values into larger ones. This
reduces data duplication and improves efficiency.
How a Region Quadtree Works
1. The raster field (a grid of data) is divided into four parts (quadrants) recursively until
each part has a single value.
2. For example, if an 8x8 grid has three different values and the southeast quadrant has
only one value, it is represented as one large node.
3. Non-uniform quadrants are subdivided further.
Quadtree Structure
Nonleaf Nodes: These represent areas that need further division because they
contain mixed values.
Leaf Nodes:
o Black Nodes: Represent homogeneous areas with one value.
o White Nodes: Represent empty areas or regions with no interest.
Efficiency of Quadtrees
In a quadtree, nodes at the same level correspond to areas of the same size. This structure
helps speed up calculations by enabling fast queries for specific areas. The top node
represents the entire grid, and each level breaks down the data into smaller regions.
1. Memory Efficiency: By merging uniform areas into larger cells, memory usage is
reduced.
2. Detail Precision: Allows for different levels of detail depending on the complexity of
the spatial data.
3. Faster Data Processing: Reduces data duplication, which speeds up processing
and querying.
4. Scalability: Works well with large datasets, offering high detail only in areas where
it’s needed.
1. Geospatial Data Representation: Commonly used in GIS for mapping regions with
irregular shapes, like land use or weather patterns.
2. Image Compression: In image processing, irregular tessellations help compress
images efficiently without losing important details.
3. Environmental Modeling: Used in modeling natural phenomena like terrain or
vegetation, where data density varies across different areas.
4. Cellular Networks: Helps plan mobile networks by representing areas with varying
signal strengths, optimizing resource use based on demand
Modelling plays a vital role in representing the real world by simplifying and abstracting
complex geographical phenomena. In Geographic Information Systems (GIS), modelling
helps to digitally represent, analyze, and visualize real-world spatial data, making it easier to
study and understand various processes, both natural and human-made.
Process of Modelling:
1. Data Collection: The first step in modelling is gathering relevant real-world data
through:
o Direct Observation: Using sensors and digitizing the data they capture.
o Indirect Methods: Converting existing data, such as maps, into digital
formats.
The entire modeling process turns real-world geographical phenomena into digital data,
which is then analyzed and visualized for easy interpretation and decision-making. GIS uses
spatial layers, maps, and classifications to represent the data, and outputs like heat maps or
terrain maps help users gain actionable insights.
Advantages of Modeling:
1. Analytical Power: GIS models enable in-depth analysis of spatial data, uncovering
patterns and trends in the real world.
2. Domain-Specific Customization: Models can be adjusted to focus on specific fields
or phenomena, applying the most relevant techniques.
3. Flexible Representation: Geographic features can be displayed in various ways
based on available data and analysis requirements.
4. Data-Driven Decisions: Modeling helps in making informed decisions by providing
clear, data-backed insights into spatial processes.
Limitations of Modeling:
1. Data Granularity: The model may miss finer details or aspects of a phenomenon
due to the level of data available.
2. Computational Constraints: Limited processing power or storage can reduce the
model’s accuracy or capacity to handle large datasets.
3. Scope of Analysis: The model is limited to analyzing specific areas or phenomena,
restricting its broader use.
4. Potential for Oversimplification: Complex real-world processes may be
oversimplified in the model, leading to inaccurate representations.
1. Terrain Analysis: GIS uses elevation data to model the terrain, showing important
features like slopes, valleys, and elevations.
2. Demographic Distribution: Heat maps help visualize population density, showing
where people live in large or small concentrations.
The Relational Data Model is a widely used approach in database management systems
(DBMS). It represents data in the form of tables, also known as relations, which consist of
rows and columns. Each table stores data about a specific entity, with rows (tuples)
representing individual records and columns (attributes) representing the properties of those
records. This structure makes it easy to organize, manipulate, and retrieve data efficiently.
This model was introduced by E.F. Codd in 1970, revolutionizing the way data is managed
by providing a mathematical foundation based on set theory and first-order predicate logic. It
emphasizes data integrity, consistency, and independence, making it suitable for various
applications, from small-scale systems to large enterprise databases.
1. Relation (Table):
A relation is a table with rows and columns. Each relation represents an entity (like
Students, Employees, etc.).
o Rows: Represent individual records, known as tuples.
o Columns: Represent data fields, known as attributes.
2. Attributes (Columns):
Attributes are the properties that describe each record in a table. For example, in a
Student table, attributes can be Student_ID, Name, Course, and Age.
3. Tuples (Rows):
A tuple is a single row in a relation that holds data for one entity. Each tuple contains
values corresponding to the attributes.
4. Domains:
The domain defines the possible values an attribute can hold. For example, the Age
attribute can only have numerical values.
5. Primary Key:
A primary key uniquely identifies each tuple in a relation. No two rows can have the
same primary key value.
Example: Student_ID in the Student table.
6. Foreign Key:
A foreign key is an attribute in one table that refers to the primary key in another
table, establishing a relationship between the two tables.
Example: Course_ID in the Student table may reference the Course_ID in the Course
table.
7. Relation Schema:
A relation schema defines the structure of a relation, including the relation's name,
its attributes, and their data types.
Example:
php
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Student (Student_ID: int, Name: varchar, Course: varchar, Age: int)
8. Relation Instance:
The relation instance refers to the actual data stored in a table at a particular point in
time. The schema remains fixed, but the instance can change as data is added,
updated, or deleted.
⚠️Limitations
Performance Issues: May slow down with very large datasets and complex queries.
Complex Joins: Working with multiple tables requires complex join operations.
Scalability: Not ideal for distributed systems compared to NoSQL databases.
Maintenance Overhead: Requires regular optimization, indexing, and backups to
maintain performance
🗂️Table 1: Student
Student_ID (Primary Key) Name Course_ID (Foreign Key) Age
101 Alice C001 20
102 Bob C002 21
103 Charlie C001 22
🗂️Table 2: Course
Course_ID (Primary Key) Course_Name Duration (Years)
C001 B.Sc 3
C002 B.Com 3
C003 B.Tech 4
🔗 Relationships:
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SELECT * FROM Student WHERE Course_ID = 'C001';
o Result:
sql
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SELECT Name, Age FROM Student;
o Result:
Name Age
Alice 20
Bob 21
Charlie 22
sql
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SELECT Student.Name, Course.Course_Name
FROM Student
JOIN Course ON Student.Course_ID = Course.Course_ID;
o Result:
Name Course_Name
Alice B.Sc
Bob B.Com
Charlie B.Sc
Primary sources – Directly collected data through field surveys, satellite imagery,
GPS measurements, and remote sensing.
Secondary sources – Existing data obtained from government agencies,
organizations, or published maps.
Once collected, the data undergoes processing to remove errors and inconsistencies. This
includes:
Data cleaning and calibration – Removing errors and aligning data with real-world
coordinates.
Rasterization and vectorization – Converting scanned maps into digital GIS
formats.
Georeferencing – Assigning spatial coordinates to images and maps.
2. Data Storage
GIS requires structured storage systems to manage large volumes of spatial and attribute
data efficiently. Spatial data is often stored in layers or themes, which can be accessed,
updated, and queried.
GIS databases use relational, hierarchical, and object-based models to organize and link
these datasets, ensuring efficient retrieval and management.
3. Data Analysis
This is the core function of GIS, where spatial relationships and patterns are studied. GIS
allows users to perform:
Overlay Analysis – Combining multiple layers (e.g., roads, land use) to find
relationships.
Buffering – Creating zones around a feature (e.g., defining a safety zone around a
river).
Network Analysis – Finding optimal routes, travel time, and connectivity (e.g., traffic
flow analysis).
Interpolation – Estimating values at unknown locations based on surrounding data
points.
These analysis techniques help decision-makers visualize trends, predict future changes,
and solve geographic problems.
After analysis, GIS presents results through maps, charts, graphs, and reports for easy
interpretation. These visual representations help in:
Modern GIS software integrates interactive maps, 3D visualizations, and real-time data
overlays, making the presentation more dynamic and user-friendly
A Database Management System (DBMS) is a software system that enables users to create,
manage, and manipulate databases efficiently. It helps in organizing large amounts of data,
ensuring data integrity, security, and easy access. Here are the key reasons for using a
DBMS:
Reason: Some datasets are extremely large, making traditional text files or
spreadsheets inefficient.
Explanation: A DBMS is designed to handle vast amounts of data, allowing quick
retrieval, updates, and complex calculations without performance issues.
Example: In banking systems, customer transactions are processed in real-time,
managing millions of records seamlessly.
Reason: Organizations often require multiple users to work on the same database
simultaneously.
Explanation: A DBMS allows concurrent data access without conflicts, ensuring
that updates by one user do not affect others.
Example: In an online shopping platform, thousands of users can place orders
simultaneously without data inconsistency.
Purpose: SDI makes sure that spatial data is available, accessible, and can work across
different systems, allowing better decisions based on geographic information.
1. Technologies:
Technologies are the tools and systems used to handle spatial data.
o GIS Software & Hardware: These tools are used to capture, store, analyze,
and display spatial data.
Examples:
ArcGIS: Used by governments and companies for mapping
and analysis.
QGIS: Open-source software popular for academic and small
business projects.
o Web-based Applications: Allow users to view and analyze maps online
without installing special software.
Example: Google Maps lets users access geographic data directly on
the web.
🔍 Functions of SDI:
1. Data Discovery:
o What it does: Helps users search and find spatial data through online
catalogs and portals.
o How it helps: Saves time by making data easy to locate.
o Examples:
INSPIRE Geoportal (EU): A platform to find geospatial datasets from
across Europe.
USGS Earth Explorer: Provides satellite imagery and maps for
environmental studies.
3. Data Integration:
o What it does: Combines data from different sources (maps, GPS, satellite
images) into one system for better analysis.
o Why it’s important: Helps to understand complex issues like climate change
or traffic patterns by viewing all relevant data together.
o Examples:
ArcGIS Online: Merges data from maps, sensors, and satellites for
analysis.
QGIS: Allows integration of shapefiles, web services, and database
data for advanced mapping.
5. Visualization:
o What it does: Converts data into interactive maps, dashboards, and
reports for easy understanding.
o Why it’s important: Helps people make decisions quickly based on visual
data.
o Examples:
Tableau (with GIS): Business intelligence dashboards showing sales
trends on maps.
Google Maps API: Displays custom maps with specific data points,
like restaurant locations or traffic info.
🌟 Importance of SDI:
Spatial data handling involves several stages that help in capturing, processing, analyzing,
and presenting spatial data effectively. These stages ensure that the data is accurate, well-
maintained, and useful for decision-making processes.
1️⃣ Spatial Data Capture and Preparation
Definition: The process of collecting and preparing raw data for use in spatial
systems.
Sources of Data:
o Primary Sources: First-hand data collected through field surveys, GPS
surveys, manual observations, etc.
o Secondary Sources: Data obtained from organizations, published materials,
or existing datasets.
Methods of Data Capture:
o Remote Sensing: Capturing images through satellites or aerial photography.
o Photogrammetry: Using photographs to measure distances between
objects.
o Digitization: Converting analog maps into digital formats.
o Field Surveys: Ground-truthing for data validation.
o Manual Data Entry: Entering data manually into GIS software.
Data Preparation:
o Data Conversion: Changing data formats to match system requirements.
o Build-and-Verification: Ensuring captured data (like line segments) is
accurate, often converting lines into polygons as per application needs.
Example:
Collecting GPS coordinates during a field survey to create a digital map of a
city park
Example:
Storing a city's road network data in a GIS database to keep it updated with new
roads and changes.
Example:
Finding all residential buildings within 500 meters of a river to assess flood risk.
Example:
Creating a thematic map to show population density in different city areas
using color gradients.