Geoinformatics

Dr. Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman Tariq

Atiq.Tariq@gmail.com
 Geoinformatics
Geography + Informatics
Geography is derived from the Greek
'gewgrajia' – geographia or 'earth-
describe-write' meaning 'To describe or
write about the earth'
Informatics is the study of information and
computation including data processing,
management, artificial intelligence,
cognitive science, computer science,
information science and social science
 Geoinformatics

Geoinformatics is a science which develops From

andWikipedia
uses
information science infrastructure to address the problems
of geosciences and related branches of engineering.
The three main tasks of geoinformatics are:
･development and management of databases of geodata
･analysis and modeling of geodata
･development and integration of computer tools and
software for the first two tasks.
Geoinformatics is related to geocomputation and to the
development and use of geographic information systems or
Spatial Decision Support Systems
Geomatics, Geoinformatics and
Geospatial Technology
Geomatics is the official ISO term
Geoinformatics was used earlier but is
now restricted to application of
information sciences to geosciences,
typically geocomputation
Geospatial Technology is used to describe
use of spatial software for applying
analytical methods on geographical data
 What is Geoinformatics
Geoinformatics is the discipline of gathering,
storing, processing, and delivery of geographical
information, or spatially referenced information
using information and communications
technologies
 Geodesy
 Surveying
 Mapping
Traditional subjects  Hydrography
 Cartography
 Photogrammetry
 Network Analysis
 Significance
 Geographical information is
›Large in volume
›Graphical – maps
›Time varying
 Geographical data requires special instruments for
acquisition, storage and processing
 Geographical data processing is iterative and
repetitive
 Geographical visualisation requires 3D capability
 Mode of Geoinformatics
• Geodesy
• Surveying
• Mapping
• Hydrography
• Cartography
• Photogrammetry
• Networks • Geographic • Global
Information Positioning
Systems System
• Wireless • Navigation
Location • Digital
• Positioning Terrain
• Remote Modelling
Sensing
 Spatial Data
 Aerial photography
›Photo interpretation
›Stereo-plotting
 Remote Sensing from air and space
›Digital data
 Data analysis
›Digital image processing
›Digital photogrammetry
›Image interpretation
 GPS for accurate position location
 Total station
Automation of Geoprocessing
 1970s: CAD adapted to automate map production
 DBMS for data storage
 Merger of CAD and DBMS – AM/FM
 1980s: GIS emerges
 Integration with remote sensing
 Integration with GPS
›Location based services
 Integration with Internet -WebGIS
 Science of Geoinformatics
“Geographic Information Science (GIScience) is the basic research field that
seeks to redefine geographic concepts and their use in the context of
geographic information systems. GIScience also examines the impacts of GIS on
individuals and society, and the influences of society on GIS.

GIScience re-examines some of the most fundamental themes in traditional

spatially oriented fields such as geography, cartography, and geodesy, while
incorporating more recent developments in cognitive and information science.
It also overlaps with and draws from more specialized research fields such as
computer science, statistics, mathematics, and psychology, and contributes to
progress in those fields.

It supports research in political science and anthropology, and draws on those

fields in studies of geographic information and society.”
- UCGIS, 1999
 From Image to Information
Image processing
Image
Digitisation
Thematic
Map GIS Capture
Vector
Analysis
Map
Digital
Database
Report
NATURAL RESOURCES
Gravity Anomaly Map

The Earth’s gravity

field is depicted in two
principal ways: gravity
anomaly maps and
maps of the Earth’s
geoid.
ASSET MANAGEMENT
 Mobile Asset Tracking

Network Hub Station

Internet Control Centre

Tracking and Warning System for Fishing Boats
DEFENCE
C4ISR
 Autonomous Navigation
• Terrain Contour Matching,
TERCOM, is a navigation
system which compares a pre-
recorded contour map of the
terrain to measurements made
during flight by an on-
board radar altimeter
• Digital Scene-Mapping Area
Correlator (DSMAC) systems
are often combined with
TERCOM as a terminal
guidance system allowing
point attack with conventional
warheads
E-GOVERNANCE
 Definition of e-Government
e-Government, or electronic
government, is the application of
information and communications
technology to enhance the productivity
of legislature, judiciary and
administration. The primary delivery
models are G2C, G2B and G2G
- www.wikipedia.org
 Typical Municipal Issues
• Where are the properties where the assessed value
increased? Decreased? Is their value consistent with
those of similar properties in the neighborhood?
• What vacant properties are larger than 100,00 square
metre, are zoned commercial, and are within a km of the
expressway interchange?
• What properties above a certain elevation will be affected
by shutting down this water tower for maintenance?”
• Given requirements for response time, which is a
function of street distance and driving speed, what is the
best location for the new fire station?
• Is there a spatial pattern (clustered location, time of day,
how the crime was conducted) in the recent outbreak of
house burglaries?
 Related Functions
• Tax (Parcel) Map Maintenance
• Standard Theme Maps
• Custom Maps
• Determining Conformance to Spatial Criteria for
a Building Permit
• Providing Basic Information for A Building
Permit
• Public Access Terminal
• Network Infrastructure Maintenance Tracking
• Fire Equipment Response Distance Analysis
TPS Maps
related with
Stamp Duty
Info.
 Evaluating Route Economics

Bus routes
and
income/da
y
 Landfill Site Identification
Criterions As Per
Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB)
OBJECTIVE: - Inputs from
List of Municipal Corporations GUDC
Existing Landfill Sites

Creation of
Geo-spatial Thematic Layers
METHODLOGY
Integration of Municipal Corporations
and Existing Landfill Sites in GIS
Environment
Geo-informatics
Geo
Criterion based
Spatial Analysis

Field Survey

Identification and Priortisation of Wastelands

for Landfill Sites

DELIVERABLES Map Outputs Of Identified Landfill Sites

Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) Criteria for
Locating New Landfill Sites
Sr. Place Minimum Siting
No Distance
1 Habitation 500 meters
2 Rivers / Lakes / Water bodies 200 meters
3 Non meandering (canal, drainage, etc.) 30 meters
4 Highway / Railway line 300meters from
centre line
5 Coastal Regulation Zoning No landfill site would
be permitted in the
zone
6 Earthquake Zone 500 meters from fault
line fracture
7 Flood Prone Area Not permitted
Criterion Based Identification Of Wastelands For Landfill Sites
CITY PLANNING
Urbanization Pattern Study
Air Quality Map
 Geoinformatics - Some key elements
 A strong partnership between domain experts
(geoscientists) and computer scientists
 A shared goal of doing better (and more) science
 A desire to create products that the scientific community
actually needs and will use (not what you think they need or
should want)
 Always give credit to original sources of data, software, etc.
 A desire to preserve data, make it easily used and
discovered, and create living databases
 A desire to create user friendly and platform independent
software
 A desire to facilitate data integration
 A desire to create cyberinfrastructure breakthroughs (e.g.,
visualization, 3-
3-D model building editing, etc.)
 A desire to democratize the use of cutting edge technology
in geoscience research and education
 Some Definitions about Data
Data Set: A relatively raw compilation of data
(standards, formats, completeness may be questionable)

Data Base: A mature data compilation that has been

“cleaned”, standardized with input from the scientific
community, formatted for use by others (independent of
proprietary software, e.g., ORACLE)

Data System: A linked and organized set of data bases

including public domain software (not platform dependent),
tutorials, workflows, and procedures to analyze the data
 Data systems needed
Property X Y Z Z T
(elevation) (depth)
Seismicity Earthquake location    

Gravity Density    inferred 

Aeromagnetic Magnetic    inferred
Susceptibility

Seismic Reflection Arrival times    inferred 

Seismic Refraction Arrival times    inferred

Electromagnetic Electrical    inferred 

conductivity

Heat Flow Thermal   

conductivity

Drill Hole Data Depth,    

Lithology, Physical
properties
 Data systems needed (continued)
Property X Y Z Z T
(elevation) (depth)
Geologic Maps Distribution   
of units
Faults Geometry    inferred
(mapping and imaging)

Geochemistry/Petrology Composition   inferred

Geochronology Age   
Global Positioning System Position    

Digital Elevation Model Elevation grid   

Remote Sensing (SAR) Image of    
reflectivity
Remote Sensing Image of   
(multispectral) reflectivity
Paleontology Ancient life   

Sedimentology Ancient   inferred inferred 

environments
Data is only the beginning

Decision
Support

Knowledge

Information

Data
 GIS Resources
Further reading:
Heywood, I., Cornelius, S. and S. Carver, 2006 (3rd Edition), An Introduction to
Geographical Information Systems (Prentice-Hall).
Longley, PA, et. al, 2005 (2nd Edition), Geographic Information Systems and Science
(Chichester: John Wiley and Sons Ltd).

General GIS Resources:

• http://www.agi.org.uk - Association for Geographic Information
• http://www.wiley.com/legacy/wileychi/longley/ - Companion website to Geographical
Information Systems and Science textbook
• http://www.gis.com
• http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/tf/13658816.html - The International Journal of
Geographical Information Science
• http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/gissc/ - The NCGIA core curriculum in GIScience
• http://www.rgs.org - The RGS-IBG Geographical Information Science Research Group
• http://www.ucgis.org - University Consortium for Geographic Information Science
 GIS Resources
Software
ESRI – http://training.campus.com
Google Earth - http://earth.google.com/intl/en/userguide/v4/tutorials/index.html
Digital Worlds - http://www.digitalworlds.co.uk/
Ordnance Survey:
http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/education/mappingnews/previousediti
ons/33/p38-39.pdf

Data
Ordnance Survey (maps) - http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
Office of National Statistics (socio-economic variables) – http://www.statistics.gov.uk
English Nature (landcover datasets) - http://www.english-
nature.org.uk/pubs/gis/GIS_Register.asp
British Geological Survey (small scale bedrock and deposit maps) -
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/products/digitalmaps/data_625k.html
Earth Science Data Interface (satellite data) -
http://glcfapp.umiacs.umd.edu:8080/esdi/index.jsp (satellite data can be very
demanding to set up)
Streetmap (useful postcode information) – http://www.streetmap.co.uk