Introduction:
Name: Ariana Njoroge
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Psychology
Interests: Drawing, Reading, Photography, Music, Dance, Crochet, Psychology
Schuurman Chpt. 1:
Schuurman ch.1 covers the basics and origins of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) as a science and a discipline, and talks about how it has become so prevalent in the daily lives of millions of people world wide. From GPS to disease control, GIS is used in hundreds of fields, from commercial/industrial to agricultural work. I find this interesting because it means that based on the nature of the issue you’re dealing with using GIS, it influences the way GIS can be defined. GIS at its core is concerned with data input, analysis, mapping and output of spatial data. The origins of the concept of GIS can be traced back to researcher Ian McHarg, a landscape architect, wanted to examine the effects of the construction of a new highway on a suburban area. To accomplish this he placed multiple pieces of tracing paper on a light table, using each piece to represent a layer. This was one of the earliest development stages of GIS; the use of tracing paper to represent layers is a metaphor of the overlay function.
Two of the main concepts of GIS is the analysis and display of spatial data. However, technology did not develop enough to accomplish this until the early 1960s by researchers in the US. The combination of aerial photography and the development of computer systems that could categorize land zones into layers (eg. wildlife, recreational areas) created the foundation for future GIS technology to build from. In the 1980s, a more efficient method of computerized overlay came to be. This involved the utilization of polygonal/vector boundaries, and added an entirely new dimension to how GIS could be utilized in a more user-friendly way. Visualization can help us give data meaning, and the development of polygonal imagery allowed geographers to see and understand spatial patterns in any given region. This allows GIS programs to be utilized in a multitude of differing fields, and is exactly what makes it so interesting as a discipline. It has come a very long way over the decades and will slowly but surely become one of the most vital technologies in the modern day. Overall I thought the chapter was a great introduction into GIS. I found it’s origins very intriguing, and look forward to see how I learn to interpret and use GIS through this course.
GIS Applications
1. Agriculture: GIS provides accurate, comprehensive data that aids decision making and planning. An example of this would be sensors placed in the soil that record temperature and moisture levels to ensure crop health. It can help farmers determine whether some crops will grow better than others in certain seasons, or determining how climate changes could affect crop health. This can be especially helpful for smaller-scale farmers who are particularly vulnerable to climate issues.
2. Enterprise decision-making: GIS software enables companies to make decisions regarding customer segmentation, real estate management, as well as transport and delivery management. GIS also allows companies to secure and allocate resources, as well as ensure efficient field service management. This will allow business operations to run smoothly, in that customer issues and complaints can be resolved. In the long run, it reduces downtime and costs while increasing customer satisfaction.
Source:
Mathenge, M., Sonneveld, B. G. J. S., & Broerse, J. E. W. (2022). Application of GIS in Agriculture in Promoting Evidence-Informed Decision Making for Improving Agriculture Sustainability: A Systematic Review. Sustainability, 14(16), 9974. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169974