Gis For Dummies(R)

GIS (geographic information system) is a totally cool technology that has been called “geography on steroids.” GIS is what lets you see the schools in your neighborhood or tells you where the nearest McDonald’s is. GIS For Dummies tells you all about mapping terminology and digital mapping, how to locate geographic features and analyze patterns such as streets and waterways, and how to generate travel directions, customer location lists, and much more with GIS.
Whether you’re in charge of creating GIS applications for your business or you simply love maps, you’ll find GIS For Dummies is packed with information. For example, you can:
Learn all the hardware and software necessary to collect, analyze, and manipulate GIS data
Explore the difference between 2D and 3D maps, create a map, or manage multiple maps
Analyze patterns that appear in maps and interpret the results
Measure distance in absolute, comparative, and functional ways
Recognize how spatial factors relate to geographic data
Discover how GIS is used in business, the military, city planning, emergency services, land management, and more
Find out how GIS can help you find out where flooding may occur
Determine what your organization needs, do appropriate analyses, and actually plan and design a GIS system
You’ll find dozens of applications for GIS queries and analyses, and even learn to create animated GIS output. Whether your goal is to implement a GIS or just have fun, GIS For Dummies will get you there!
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

Michael N. DeMers is an Associate Professor of Geography with more than 25 years of GIS experience. He is also CEO of DeMers Geographics, a provider of educational resources for GIS students and educators.

Introduction.
Part I: GIS: Geography on Steroids.
Chapter 1: Seeing the Scope of GIS.
Chapter 2: Recognizing How Maps Show Information.
Chapter 3: Reading, Analyzing, and Interpreting Maps.
Part II: Geography Goes Digital.
Chapter 4: Creating a Conceptual Model.
Chapter 5: Understanding the GIS Data Models.
Chapter 6: Keeping Track of Data Descriptions.
Chapter 7: Managing Multiple Maps.
Chapter 8: Gathering and Digitizing Geographic Data.
Part III: Retrieving, Counting, and Characterizing Geography.
Chapter 9: Finding Information in Raster Systems.
Chapter 10: Finding Features in Vector Systems.
Chapter 11: Searching for Geographic Objects, Distributions, and Groups.
Part IV: Analyzing Geographic Patterns.
Chapter 12: Measuring Distance.
Chapter 13: Working with Statistical Surfaces.
Chapter 14: Exploring Topographical Surfaces.
Chapter 15: Working with Networks.
Chapter 16: Comparing Multiple Maps.
Chapter 17: Map Algebra and Model Building.
Part V: GIS Output and Application.
Chapter 18: Producing Cartographic Output.
Chapter 19: Generating Non-Cartographic Output.
Chapter 20: GIS in Organizations.
Part VI: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 21: Ten GIS Software Vendors.
Chapter 22: Ten Questions to Ask Potential Vendors.
Chapter 23: Ten GIS Data Sources.
Index.