Usability engineering for GIS: learning from a screenshot

In this paper, the focus is on the concept of Usability Engineering for GIS – a set of techniques and methods that are especially suitable for evaluating the usability of GIS applications – which can be deployed as part of the development process. To demonstrate how the framework of Usability Engineering for GIS can be used in reality, a screenshot study is described. Users were asked to provide a screenshot of their GIS during their working day. The study shows how a simple technique can help in understanding the way GIS is used in situ

Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis

Series: Discussion Papers of the Institute for Economic Geography and GIScienc

Prev Chronic Dis

Having information about preexisting chronic diseases and available public health assets is critical to ensuring an adequate public health response to natural disasters and acts of terrorism. We describe a method to derive this information using a combination of data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and geographic information systems (GIS) technology. Our demonstration focuses on counties in states that are within 100 miles of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean coastlines. To illustrate the flexible nature of planning made possible through the interactive use of a GIS, we use a hypothetical scenario of a hurricane making landfall in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.200818558047PMC248357

Geographic Information Systems: A Toolbox for Sustainable Tourism in Southern Africa

Achieving sustainable tourism is a multidisciplinary process fraught with development planning obstacles that require advanced spatial data and information system management. Tourism growth and planning pronouncements are becoming increasingly complex without a corresponding organised computerised spatial data and information management system. Tourism organisations are also grappling with the challenges of achieving sustainable tourism development. The emergence of geographic information systems technology can help address the challenges associated with achieving sustainable tourism development. Geographic information systems technology provides opportunities for spatial data and analysis of tourism resources for sustainable development. Through content analysis, this study reviews how geographic information systems technology can contribute to sustainable tourism development. Specifically, the authors examined the role of geographic information systems technology in managing environmental impacts, analysing the suitability of locations, identifying conflicting interests, and modelling relationships for sustainable tourism development within the Southern African context. The findings indicate that geographic information systems technology has the potential to contribute to sustainable tourism development and achieving sustainable development goals. It offers a snapshot of the state-of-the-art in this rapidly evolving field to tourism academics, managers, and policymakers

Error processes in the integration of digital cartographic data in geographic information systems.

Errors within a Geographic Information System (GIS) arise from several factors. In the first instance receiving data from a variety of different sources results in a degree of incompatibility between such information. Secondly, the very processes used to acquire the information into the GIS may in fact degrade the quality of the data. If geometric overlay (the very raison d'etre of many GISs) is to be performed, such inconsistencies need to be carefully examined and dealt with. A variety of techniques exist for the user to eliminate such problems, but all of these tend to rely on the geometry of the information, rather than on its meaning or nature. This thesis explores the introduction of error into GISs and the consequences this has for any subsequent data analysis. Techniques for error removal at the overlay stage are also examined and improved solutions are offered. Furthermore, the thesis also looks at the role of the data model and the potential detrimental effects this can have, in forcing the data to be organised into a pre-defined structure

Development of a methodology for monitoring changes in Ghanaian forest reserves

The Ghanaian Forests are a significant component of the country’s development. Occasioned by the rapid population growth of the country, increasing phenomena such as shifting agriculture, logging, fuelwood harvesting and fire outbreaks have claimed over 70% of the original forests. The reduction of forests has stimulated the development of management tools to control forest depletion. In order to focus the intervention of forest managers and environmental planners, the rate and impact of forest depletion must be monitored and well documented. Financial constraints and the lack of adequate maps have hindered the setting up of effective monitoring mechanisms. This study illustrated the feasibility for using Landsat data and GIS to map changes in the Ghanaian forest reserves. GIS was used to create the initial database for the study. Three image analysis change detection methods namely image algebra (image differencing), spectral temporal and spectral temporal principal component analysis were employed. The results of the analysis showed that spatial distributions of the changed areas produced by all three methods were similar, varying only in the extent. The remote sensing image analysis required the information stored in the GIS database for rectification and for the assessment of the classification procedure. A quantitative accuracy assessment was not possible for the procedures due to limited ground truthing. The use of GPS in field data collection was demonstrated by its use in delineating the boundary of a selected reserve. The GPS data was able to adequately display the reserve boundary, the spatial distribution of Taungya and farms along the boundary as well as relocated boundary pillars. All new layers of information generated from the research were displayed and stored in the GIS. Finally, the importance of the outlined procedures in the monitoring of Ghanaian forest and the limitations of the study were discussed