Components and

Functions of GIS
Presented by: Eng. Suba Hewavidana
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Component of GIS

Hardware

Software

Data

People

App/Methods
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Component of GIS

▸ Hardware: The general hardware component of a geographical

information system is the computer.
▸ ability to create, share, and use geographic information is
enabled by these hardware devices.
• Computer Processing Units
• Visual Display Units
• Storage Devices
• Printers and Plotters
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Component of GIS

▸ Hardware: The general hardware component of a geographical

information system is the computer.
• Computer Processing Units
• Visual Display Units
• Storage Devices
• Printers and Plotters
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Component of GIS

▸ Hardware: The general hardware component of a geographical

information system is the computer.
• Computer Processing Units
• Visual Display Units
• Storage Devices
• Printers and Plotters
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Component of GIS

▸ Hardware: The general hardware component of a geographical

information system is the computer.
• Computer Processing Units
• Visual Display Units
• Storage Devices
• Printers and Plotters
• Printers- smaller-scale outputs
• Plotters- producing larger and higher-quality
prints
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Component of GIS
▸ Software: The GIS software includes the programs and the user
interface for driving the hardware. GIS software is essential to
generate, store, analyze, manipulate and display geographic
information or data.
o Database management systems (DBMS):PostGIS, Oracle Spatial,
and Microsoft SQL Server with spatial extensions
o Cartographic (mapping):ArcGIS Map Layouts, MapInfo Pro's
cartographic tools, and QGIS' Print Composer
o Computer Aided Design (CAD): for infrastructure planning and
design
o Remote sensing or image processing: ENVI, ERDAS Imagine, and
open-source tools like Orfeo Toolbox and GRASS GIS
o Digitizing programs : digitizing tools in GIS software
o Contouring and surface modelling : to create elevation models and
visualize terrain data
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Component of GIS

▸ Basically, the GIS software should allow for a minimum of:

(a) Graphical data entry - allows the inputs of map features in the form of geo-
referenced locations.
(b) Annotation entry - allows for textual information to be displayed on maps.
(c) Graphic editing - allows maps to be updated or amended.
(d) Data manipulation - performing various operations on the geographic data
(e) Graphic display - allows for control over the appearance and format of maps.
(f) Database management - allows for the entry, storage, retrieval and
management of information relative to the graphical entries.
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Component of GIS
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Component of GIS

▸ Data: The integration of spatial and tabular data

stored in a DBMS is a key functionality afforded by
GIS.
o Spatial data (Vector and Raster)
o Tabular data (Attribute)
o Metadata (Description of Data)
▹ Title and Description
▹ Temporal Extent
▹ Coordinate Reference System (CRS)
▹ Data Format and Structure
▹ Attribute Information
▹ Data Source and Acquisition Method
▹ Accuracy and Quality Information
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Component of GIS
▸ People: This is called 'brain ware'
which is equally important as the
Hardware and software.
▸ they are the users, practitioners, and
stakeholders who interact with GIS
technology to gather, analyze,
interpret, and apply spatial
information for various purposes.
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Component of GIS
▸ Methods: The techniques, procedures, and processes used to
perform tasks related to data analysis, spatial modeling, and
problem-solving.
▹ Spatial Analysis Methods: Buffering, Network Analysis, Spatial
Interpolation
▹ Geoprocessing Methods: Union, Intersection, Difference, Clip, Erase,
Merge, Buffer, Dissolve
▹ Spatial Modeling Methods: Hydrological Modeling, Urban Growth
Modeling
▹ Remote Sensing Methods: Image Classification, Change Detection,
Vegetation Index Calculations
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Functions of GIS

▸ Data Input

▸ Data Management

▸ Data Manipulation and Analysis

▸ Data Output
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Functions of GIS
▸ Data Input
Data used in GIS often come from many sources.
Data sources are mainly obtained from Manual
Digitization and Scanning of aerial photographs,
paper maps, and existing digital data sets. Remote
sensing satellite imagery and GPS are promising
data input sources for GIS.
Digitization; A conversion process which converts
paper maps into numerical digits that can be stored
in the computer. Digitizing simplifies map data into
sets of points, lines, or cells that can be stored in the
GIS computer.
There are two basic methods of Digitization: Manual
Digitizing & Scanning.
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Functions of GIS
▸ Data Management
These are the functions performed
by a Geographic Information
System to store and retrieve data
from the database.
Data Management plays an
important role in order to ensure the
security, property and confidentiality
of the information and data
acquired during all the cycles of a
any GIS project.
Ex: ARCGIS Personal Geodatabase
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Functions of GIS
▸ Data Manipulation and Analysis
Data manipulation and analysis functions may vary from one GIS
to another but can be broadly sub-divided into spatial vs. non-
spatial analysis.
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Functions of GIS
▸ Data Manipulation
Once data are stored in a GIS, many manipulation options are available
to users. These functions are often available in the form of "Toolkits." A
toolkit is a set of generic functions that a GIS user can employ to
manipulate and analyze geographic data.
Toolkits provide processing functions such as data retrieval, measuring
area and perimeter, overlaying maps, performing map algebra, and
reclassifying map data.
Data manipulation tools include Coordinate change, Projections, and
Edge matching, which allow a GIS to reconcile irregularities between
map layers or adjacent map sheets called Tiles.
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Functions of GIS
▸ Data Analysis
The heart of GIS is the analytical capabilities of the system. What
distinguish the GIS system from other information system are its spatial
analysis functions.
Although the data input is, in general, the most time-consuming part, it is for
data analysis that GIS is used. The analysis functions use the spatial and
non-spatial attributes in the database to answer questions about the real
world.
Geographic analysis facilitates the study of real-world processes by
developing and applying models. Such models illuminate the underlying
trends in geographic data and thus make new information available.
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Functions of GIS
▸ GIS can represent data and perform analytical tasks at many spatial
scales
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Functions of GIS
▸ GIS can enhance understanding of
multiple landscape dimensions (2D
to 3D)
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GIS functionality
▸ GIS automatically links what and where
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GIS functionality
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Functions of GIS
▸ Data Output
The GIS has to output the data in the form of maps, tables, and
text either as softcopy (on-screen or electronic file) or as
hardcopy (paper or film).
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THANKS!
Any questions?
You can find me at subahewavidana@yahoo.com