4.7. Exercises

Two types of the data represent the geographical information. These are spatial and non – spatial data.

Geographical information is categorized into two main types: spatial data and non-spatial data. Spatial data refers to data that has a geographical component, such as location or coordinates. Examples include the boundaries of a country or the location of a street. Non-spatial data, on the other hand, does not have a geographical component; it consists of attributes or characteristics of the spatial data, like the population of a city or the types of plants in a garden.

Think of a map of a city as spatial data showing where different parks, schools, and roads are located. The non-spatial data would be the information about those schools, such as their names, the number of students they have, and their grade levels. Together, they provide a complete picture of the urban environment.

A database contains attributes and their value or class. The non-spatial data on the left display cycle parts, which can be located anywhere. The data record on the right is spatial because one of the attributes, the name of different states, which have a definite locations in a map. This data can be used in GIS.

A geographic database is structured to hold both spatial and non-spatial data. Spatial data can be visualized on a map, whereas non-spatial data includes information that describes those spatial features. For instance, in a cycle shop's inventory, the spatial component includes the location of each item, while the non-spatial data would be the descriptions of those items, such as type, size, and quantity.

Imagine a library system where books (spatial data) are organized on physical shelves. Each book has related information (non-spatial data) such as title, author, and publication year. Without the attributes, locating a book on the shelf would be pointless; hence both types of data complement each other.

The important components of a Geographical Information System include the following: (a) Hardware (b) Software (c) Data (d) People (e) Procedures.

A Geographic Information System (GIS) consists of several key components that work together to analyze and visualize spatial data. Hardware refers to computers and devices used for processing and displaying data, while software is the application used to manipulate that data. Data represents the geographical information stored and used by the GIS. People are the users who operate the system and make decisions based on the analysis. Lastly, procedures are the methods and processes followed to collect, manage, and analyze the data.

Think of GIS as a pizza. The hardware is the pizza oven that cooks the base, the software is the recipe guiding how to assemble the pizza, the data is the toppings that give the pizza flavor, the people are the chefs who prepare it, and the procedures are the steps to follow to ensure the pizza gets to the table perfectly cooked.

The following advantages of a GIS are worth mentioning: 1. Users can interrogate displayed spatial features and retrieve associated attribute information for analysis.

GIS offers numerous advantages over traditional mapping and data storage methods. One major advantage is the ability for users to interact with spatial data visually and retrieve related attribute information quickly. This means that not only can users see where things are located on a map, but they can also access detailed information about those locations, facilitating better analyses and informed decision-making.

Imagine a tourist planning a visit to a new city. Using GIS, they can not only see where attractions like museums or parks are located on a map but also access information like admission prices, opening hours, and visitor reviews, enhancing their trip experience.

The spatial database into a GIS can be created from a variety sources. These could be summarised into the following two categories: (a) Acquiring Digital Data sets from a Data Supplier (b) Creating digital data sets by manual input.

To build a spatial database in GIS, data can be input from various sources. One way is through acquiring digital datasets from suppliers, which provides ready-made geographic information. The second method is manual input, where users enter data directly, whether by digitizing maps or conducting surveys. Both methods are essential for ensuring the GIS has accurate and up-to-date spatial data.

Consider a gardener planning a community garden. They could hire a professional service to provide detailed aerial images showing existing vegetation (acquiring data). Alternatively, they might create their own record by manually mapping out garden plots and collecting information on soil types (manual input).

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