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GIS Fundamentals: A First Text on Geographic Information Systems
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are computer-based tools for the entry, maintenance, and analysis of spatial data. GIS are critical for effective resource management, and have been applied across a wide range of science, business, and government endeavours.
This book provides an introduction to the theory and application of GIS. It is written for use in an introductory GIS class and as a reference for the GIS practitioner. This fifth edition balances theoretical and applied material, so that students may apply knowledge of GIS in the solution of real-world problems. Improvements over the previous editions are included in each chapter. Topics treated include an introduction to GIS, spatial data models, map projections, data entry, image data, GPS, digital data, database systems in GIS, general spatial analysis, raster analysis, terrain modeling, metadata, standards, and accuracy assessments.
This book provides an introduction to the theory and application of GIS. It is written for use in an introductory GIS class and as a reference for the GIS practitioner. This fifth edition balances theoretical and applied material, so that students may apply knowledge of GIS in the solution of real-world problems. Improvements over the previous editions are included in each chapter. Topics treated include an introduction to GIS, spatial data models, map projections, data entry, image data, GPS, digital data, database systems in GIS, general spatial analysis, raster analysis, terrain modeling, metadata, standards, and accuracy assessments.
770 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 18, 2013
Can't believe I read every page of this book!!! Was forced to by the professor...
February 26, 2022
Good information on basic GIS. However, this book needs to be updated.
April 8, 2012
I own this book, reading it for a class. HOw the heck do you add a cover, you can find this book here:
http://www.paulbolstad.net/gisbook.html
Needs a whole makeover, it is too far out of date in many respects. This industry is in a moment of growth that is logarithmic in scale. so even though the book was updated just a few years ago, there are industry standards and practices that far exceed the level of information here. IMO. The information it has is highly accurate and presented in a readable format.
It is difficult to find good books on this particular subject, most of them are written toward the person who is already deeply involved in the industry. This is probably the best available, from what I've been able to locate, still needs a serious overall update.
http://www.paulbolstad.net/gisbook.html
Needs a whole makeover, it is too far out of date in many respects. This industry is in a moment of growth that is logarithmic in scale. so even though the book was updated just a few years ago, there are industry standards and practices that far exceed the level of information here. IMO. The information it has is highly accurate and presented in a readable format.
It is difficult to find good books on this particular subject, most of them are written toward the person who is already deeply involved in the industry. This is probably the best available, from what I've been able to locate, still needs a serious overall update.
April 5, 2016
Really, when it comes to the book as pedagogical tool, it kind of fails. The material isn't something easily self-taught with book in hand. The concepts taught in the book are okay, but I found myself confused until I watched a lecture on the subject.
As a reference for how to do certain functions and how to handle data, the book is solid. However, it is not easy to find a certain application of GIS just by flipping through or reading the table of context. For this reason, I suggest, if you know the name of the operations, you can instead use the ArcGIS search tool, which contains just as much information as this whole book, but can be searched through by keywords! I don't really recommend the book if you already have the program.
As a reference for how to do certain functions and how to handle data, the book is solid. However, it is not easy to find a certain application of GIS just by flipping through or reading the table of context. For this reason, I suggest, if you know the name of the operations, you can instead use the ArcGIS search tool, which contains just as much information as this whole book, but can be searched through by keywords! I don't really recommend the book if you already have the program.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews