What is a geographic information system?

In this article, we dive a bit deeper into the world of geographic information systems - and why they for GIS-Experts, in Geoinformatics studies, in the Urban and regional planning and are irreplaceable in many other areas.

When you go to Looking for jobs where geographic information systems play a role, then take a look at GoGeoGo past.

Table of contents

• ‍From cartography to a geoinformation system
• ‍What is a modern geoinformation system?
• ‍Application examples for geoinformation systems
• ‍Conclusion Geoinformation systems

From cartography to a geoinformation system

In the beginning, there was the map. For thousands of years, people have been trying to obtain spatial information on a small scale in the form of maps (cartography) to hold on. Over the centuries, technological progress made possible ever better maps, which allowed more detailed analyses and could accumulate ever larger amounts of information.

The biggest limitation of such maps was that they could only display a select amount of data. Once a certain limit was reached, a new map had to be created.

It was only with the advent of computers and in particular databases, combined with the ability to collect, process, analyze and visualize large amounts of data using a computer, that the basis for the digital processing of spatial information was created. This is how modern geoinformation systems were created, such as the world-famous ESRI.

What is a modern geoinformation system?

There are many definitions of geographic information systems (GIS), which are based on the capabilities and tasks that a GIS should fulfill:

Capture and store spatial data

• Data sources: There are many different sources of data, e.g. satellite images, drone images, GPS information, existing digital maps, remote sensingdata sets or data collected via crowdsourcing (e.g. OpenStreetMap) that a GIS must process.
• Data formats: In the geoinformatics A distinction is made between pixel-based grid data (e.g. satellite images) and vector data (points, lines, polygons, e.g. roads). Both formats have their own advantages and disadvantages when it comes to editing.
• Georeferencing: All spatial information must be placed in a uniform coordinate system (e.g. WGS 84, UTM), i.e. conform to the same scale in order to be reasonably readable.
• Metadata & standards: Standards such as ISO 19115 and INSPIRE have become established for the use of geodata, which simplify processing.
• Data quality: To avoid costly errors, data must also be checked for errors; sensor calibration, for example, helps.

Processing geodata

• Geodata integration: Since a GIS always wants to combine multiple pieces of information, it must bring together different sources and data formats in inconsistent resolutions, etc. It helps with this:
• Data preparation: Whether collected by humans or computers, most geodata has errors such as redundancies or missing values, which must be processed through filtering, cleansing or generalization.
• Transformation/reprojection: This is called the conversion of data between different coordinate and altitude reference systems.
• Programming & automation: GIS-specific programming packages such as GDAL & GeoPandas in Python or GIS APIs help to process and automate large amounts of data.
• Big geodata processing: With very large amounts of data, it is possible to work via distributed systems, such as Google Earth Engine, Apache Spark for geodata).

Management in geodatabases

• Database systems: Relational (PostGIS, Oracle Spatial) and NoSQL databases (MongoDB, GeoJSON, cloud solutions) help to store geodata appropriately.
• Indexing & performance: Geodata indexes (e.g. R-Tree, Quadtrees) were developed to enable spatial data queries at increased speed and thus save a lot of work.
• Data access & security: For the private sector in particular, but also for privacy-sensitive roles in the public sector, there are role-based access controls, demand-oriented API interfaces for web GIS and data encryption.
• version management: Change tracking with versioning systems (e.g. ArcGIS versioned editing, Git for geodata) comes from software development to enable joint work with geodata without redundancies and data loss.
• Interoperability & standards: OGC standards (WMS, WFS, WCS) control data delivery and retrieval via various systems.

Spatial GIS analyses

• Geostatistics & pattern recognition: Cluster analyses, hotspot analyses (e.g. with Kriging or spatial autocorrelation methods) are used to identify the patterns hidden behind geodata and draw conclusions from them.
• network analyses: Whether to calculate optimal routes or accessibility analyses (e.g. for logistics or urban planning) - Most people have used GIS before. The best example is Google Maps.
• surface analyses: Geodata also helps to create elevation models (DEM, DTM), slope maps and hydrology-Analyses for urban planners, environmentalists and other sectors.
• 3D analyses & digital twins: The rapidly growing amount of data makes it possible to produce GIS-based simulation models for smart cities or even in BIM applications.
• Temporal GIS analyses: Even dynamic changes occur when using geoinformation systems through time series analyses (e.g. land use changes, climatemodels) possible.

Cartographic visualization of geodata

• Dynamic web GIS & interactive maps: Use of technologies such as Leaflet, Mapbox, OpenLayers for interactive web applications, sales processes and information graphics.
• 3D and AR GIS: Visualizing spatial data in 3D (CesiumJS, ArcGIS Scene Viewer) and augmented reality offers advantages for applications ranging from urban planning to the military.
• Color schemes & data interpretation: By using color schemes, even complex relationships can be presented in a simple and understandable way.
• Storytelling with GIS: Last but not least, geoinformation systems can also be used to create geoscientific dashboards and story maps to interactively communicate complex issues.

Application examples for geoinformation systems

But what does that have to do with your daily life? Even though GIS applications seem like a niche technology, they are extremely relevant to your everyday life. We have therefore listed a few examples of where geographic information systems can provide added value:

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Conclusion Geoinformation systems

The applications for geoinformation systems are diverse - without the need to have studied geography directly. In an increasingly complex world, in which the amount of available data, including spatial data, is increasing exponentially every year, GIS offer the opportunity to recognize patterns and draw the right conclusions.

Knowledge and experience in working with geoinformation systems are therefore valuable hard skills. You might find the right job at GoGeoGo!

faqs

Which geoinformation systems are there?

There are desktop GIS (e.g. ArcGIS, QGIS) for professional analyses, web GIS (Google Maps, OpenStreetMap) for interactive maps and mobile GIS for on-site data collection. There are specialized GIS solutions for urban planning, environmental management, logistics and disaster control.

What applications are there for GIS?

GIS is used in the areas of navigation, urban planning, environmental and climate protection, disaster management, agriculture, healthcare, logistics, and crime analysis. It helps with route optimization, location assessment, resource management, and visualization of complex spatial data.