Introduction to Geographic Information Systems 9th Edition by Kang-tsung Chang, ISBN-13: 978-1259929649

Description

• Format: PDF
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education; 9th edition (January 30, 2018)
• Language: English
• 464 pages
• ISBN-10: 1259929647
• ISBN-13: 978-1259929649

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer system for storing, managing, analyzing, and displaying geospatial data. Since the 1970s GIS has been important for professionals in natural resource management, land use planning, natural hazards, transportation, health care, public services, market area analysis, and urban planning. It has also become a necessary tool for government agencies of all the levels for routine operations. More recent integration of GIS with the Internet, global positioning system (GPS), wireless technology, and Web service has found applications in location-based services, Web mapping, in-vehicle navigation systems, collaborative Web mapping, and volunteered geographic information. It is therefore no surprise that geospatial technology was chosen by the U.S. Department of Labor as a high-growth industry. Geospatial technology centers on GIS and uses GIS to integrate data from remote sensing, GPS, cartography, and surveying to produce useful geographic information.

Many of us, in fact, use geospatial technology on a daily basis. To locate a restaurant, we go online, type the name of the restaurant, and find it on a location map. To make a map for a project, we go to Google Maps, locate a reference map, and superimpose our own contents and symbols to complete the map. To find the shortest route for driving, we use an in-vehicle navigation system to get the directions. And, to record places we have visited, we use geotagged photographs. All of these activities involve the use of geospatial technology, even though we may not be aware of it.

It is, however, easier to be GIS users than GIS professionals. To become GIS professionals, we must be familiar with the technology as well as the basic concepts that drive the technology. Otherwise, it can easily lead to the misuse or misinterpretation of geospatial information. This book is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in GIS concepts and practice.

UPDATES TO THE NINTH EDITION

The ninth edition covers GIS concepts, operations, and analyses in 18 chapters. Chapters 1 to 4 explain GIS concepts and vector and raster data models. Chapters 5 to 8 cover geospatial data acquisition, editing, and management. Chapters 9 and 10 include data display and exploration. Chapters 11 and 12 provide an overview of core data analysis. Chapters 13 to 15 focus on surface mapping and analysis. Chapters 16 and 17 examine linear features and movement. And Chapter 18 presents GIS models and modeling. Designed to meet the needs of students from different disciplines, this book can be used in a first or second GIS course.