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Geographic Information Systems

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Springer Handbook of Geographic Information

Part of the book series: Springer Handbooks ((SHB))

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Abstract

Before addressing the diverse functionalities that can be found in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) today, a definition of a geographic information system, its purpose, and its general architecture shall be given. The different forms of GIS that are found in todayʼs ever-expanding range of information technology tools will therefore be discussed in Sect. 6.1. The core of each GIS is constituted by analysis functions. They are the reason why a GIS is created in the first place. The last section in this chapter (Sect. 6.2) contains a list of the most common GIS functionality categories. A few typical examples of such analysis functions are described in more detail, to explain what geographic information (GI) is all about and how its digital form can be utilized to solve problems of geospatial nature efficiently, to gain insight into the processes of geospatial nature that influence many aspects of our life, and to arrive at decisions that are sound, explainable, and repeatable.

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Abbreviations

2-D:

two-dimensional

3-D:

three-dimensional

4-D:

four-dimensional

ATKIS:

Amtliches Topographisch-Kartographisches Informationssystem

CAD:

computer aided design

CEN:

Comité Européen de Normalisation

DBMS:

database management system

DTM:

digital terrain model

GI:

geographic information

GIS:

Geographic Information System

GPS:

Global Positioning System

GSDI:

Global Spatial Data Infrastructure

INSPIRE:

Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European Community

ISO:

International Organization for Standardization

IT:

information technology

LBS:

location-based services

MBR:

Minimum Bounding Rectangle

NSDI:

National Spatial Data Infrastructure

OGC:

Open Geospatial Consortium

ORDBMS:

Object Relational Database Management System

TC:

Technical Committee

TIN:

Triangulated Irregular Network

TV:

Television

UPS:

Universal Polar Stereographic

UoD:

Universe of Discourse

WMS:

Web Map Server

References

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  7. D.J. Maguire, M. Goodchild, D. Rhind (Eds.): Geographic Information Systems (Longman Scientific, Harlow 1991)

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Geoinformation, Graz University of Technology, Steyrergasse 30, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Norbert Bartelme

Authors
  1. Norbert Bartelme
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Norbert Bartelme .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg, Brodaer Str. 2, 17033, Neubrandenburg, Germany

    Wolfgang Kresse

  2. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., 8615 Westwood Center Drive, 22182-2214, Vienna, VA, USA

    David M. Danko

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag

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Bartelme, N. (2011). Geographic Information Systems. In: Kresse, W., Danko, D. (eds) Springer Handbook of Geographic Information. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72680-7_6

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