LectureNotes. - Lecture 1 3 Main technologies Geographic...

Lecture 1.
3 Main technologies:
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Geographic Information System (GIS): a computer-based geospatial technology for
storage, analysis, and management of location-based data.
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Remote Sensing (RS): a technology that is used to acquire imagery of the earth's
surface through the use of satellites or aircraft. The data collected by satellite devices
are typically called satellite imagery, and data acquired by devices on aircraft are called
aerial photos.
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Global Positioning System (GPS): a technology that acquires real-time location
information from a series of satellites in Earth’s orbit.
GIS:
A GIS could be a system of databases that contain spatial information (i.e., coordinates -
latitude and longitude) in addition to other data you might associate with a tabular record system
(i.e., any information you can add to a table). For example, we could enter all of the students in
this class into a table and include other tabular data like age, class, GPA, etc.
RS:
Depending on the sensor used, the data collected can provide information about the location of
objects, the physical makeup of objects, the health of vegetation, as well as the elevation of the
objects.
GPS:
Using satellites, GPS units provide highly accurate locational information associated with a
particular feature such as a monitoring well or an underground storage tank site.
GIS continued:
We can map and monitor land use changes, pollution, air quality, water quality, and global
temperature levels, which are all important information for scientific research and for making
smart decisions for the benefit of our environment.
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geospatial technology : the use of a number of different high-tech systems and tools
that can acquire, analyze, store, manage, and visualize various types of location-based
data
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geographic information system (GIS): a database system with specific capabilities for
managing geospatial data and a set of operations for working with the data.
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remote sensing (RS) : a geospatial technology that uses various sensors to collect
visual information about an area without physical contact.

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global positioning system (GPS) : a geospatial technology that provides highly
accurate locational information associated with a particular feature with the aid of
satellite systems.
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geography : the study of Earth’s surface as the space inhabited by the human
population.
Lecture 2:
how to make Geospatial information relevant: The scientific method to approach the
outside world includes four processes: obtain direct observations , decode observations
to data , convert data to information , and generate knowledge from all kinds of
information
example:
● Observations : water is higher
● Data : water is 50cm higher
● Information : 50cm sea level rise will flood some areas in the Nile Delta
● Knowledge : 50cm sea level rise will affect these regions in the following different
ways. For example, it would change the water quality and affect most fresh water
fish. Valuable agricultural land would be inundated. Vital, low-lying installations in
Alexandria and Port Said would be threatened. Recreational tourism beach