Product Description
This exploration of geographic information and geographic information systems (GIS) expands the discussion beyond the normal input-processing-output sequence. It begins by examining the manipulations that support analytical uses of GIS, including measurement and frameworks, representations, data quality, transformation and operations, parametric mapping, simple logic and overlay, taxonomy, distance transformations and surfaces. It then moves on to discuss operations that connect the practical exercises in the book to professional applications of GIS techniques in bureaucratic, social and cultural contexts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A refreshing perspective
This book is the main text for an undergraduate course in GIS in my university department. The book serves as a nice introduction to some fundamentals of GISs and does a particularly good job at linking the theoretical constructs and concepts with specific application domains. There are many examples of the applicability of the theories on specific industrial and governmental projects.

Chrisman is a gifted author and provides a refreshing perspective of how to think about geographic information systems. It all startsrather abstractly with levels of measurement, reference systems and measurement frameworks. Choices in these levels turn out to be what dictates the adoption of field vs. object data models (the classic dichotomy in GISs) and raster vs. vector structures consequently. The author then proceeds in exposing operations of increasing complexity on these structures, and does a very systematic work on categorizing them. A plethora of diagrams, figures, and footnote-definitions of important terms complement the text nicely. The final chapters on the ties of GISs with society and culture are also very interesting. The whole book has a flow and a strong structure, a feature that I value especially in technical books. There are no loose chapters and everything builds on what has been discussed before.

Of course as an introductory textbook it leaves out some areas of investigation and comments only scarcely on others. For example the chapters on comprehensive operations and transformations are just very generic overviews. Models such as spaghetti or topological database structures are also very superficially presented, hence the 4-star rating.

Overall, a very interesting, clearly written, and consice introduction to GISs.

An excellent second book for learning GIS
OK, so you've figured out how to drive the software and you've learnt the basic operations. Now, what does it all mean? This book is a great attempt to answer that question.
Nick Chrisman has drawn on his wealth of GIS experience to go beyond the basics. Don't expect to learn them here, you'll have to do that elsewhere. But when it gets down to just what it means, this is the place to be.
If you want GIS to work in a decision-making environment (which is 100% of its real applications, after all), learn from this book. We have used it as the second GIS text at The Ohio State University's Geodetic Science graduate program, and the students have appreciated its approach and content.
BTW, get the second edition (2002), noted here as 'Wie Exploring GIS' for some reason.

Outstanding high-level overview
I am an experienced GIS professional and this book is one of my favorites in my library. It is the best single source for understanding the scientific and technological context of GIS. This book has changed the wayI think about GIS.

The comment from the reader from Hong Kong iscompletely off-target. Did this person really read this book?

A pathetic attempt to cover the subject.
The author ought to stick to romance novels.

Excellent overview of Geographic Information Systems
Nick Chrisman, a legend in the field of geographic information systems, provides a refreshing perspective on GIS.I recommend this book to anyone involved in the field, particularly to those planning on teaching GIS.He places GIS in a societal context that is becoming increasing important as this technology becomes mainstream ... Read more

Product Description
This publication takes an informative look at the use of computer-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the energy industry. This excellent volume is particularly timely in light of the rapidly growing numbers and types of applications of GIS technology. The book's thoroughly illustrated chapters address the full range of GIS topics, approaches, and philosophies, with special emphasis on the petroleum industry; there is a good mix of theory, applications, resources, and practical advice. Case studies include a regional study, conceptual geological modeling, a field study, reservoir characterization, and more. A general historical overview of GIS technology, trends, and predictions is included. This book will be an invaluable guide to GIS resources and applications for individuals and companies, beginners and specialists. Properly used and integrated, Geographic Information Systems technology can help geoscientists achieve greater success in all aspects of petroleum exploration and development.

American Association Of Petroleum Engineers (AAPG)

Founded in 1917, we are the world's largest professional geological society, with over 30,000 members.

We are a pillar of the world-wide scientific community. Our books foster scientific research, advance the science of geology and promote the most effective use of petroleum extraction & processing technology and practice.

Some of the areas we publish in include:

GIS
Petroleum Engineering
Well Log Analysis
Geological Modeling
Carbonate Petrology
Seismic Imaging
Reservoir Characterization
Regional Petroleum Analysis ... Read more

Product Description
Webster's bibliographic and event-based timelines are comprehensive in scope, covering virtually all topics, geographic locations and people. They do so from a linguistic point of view, and in the case of this book, the focus is on "Geographic Information Systems," including when used in literature (e.g. all authors that might have Geographic Information Systems in their name). As such, this book represents the largest compilation of timeline events associated with Geographic Information Systems when it is used in proper noun form. Webster's timelines cover bibliographic citations, patented inventions, as well as non-conventional and alternative meanings which capture ambiguities in usage. These furthermore cover all parts of speech (possessive, institutional usage, geographic usage) and contexts, including pop culture, the arts, social sciences (linguistics, history, geography, economics, sociology, political science), business, computer science, literature, law, medicine, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and other physical sciences. This "data dump" results in a comprehensive set of entries for a bibliographic and/or event-based timeline on the proper name Geographic Information Systems, since editorial decisions to include or exclude events is purely a linguistic process. The resulting entries are used under license or with permission, used under "fair use" conditions, used in agreement with the original authors, or are in the public domain. ... Read more

Product Description
This text puts the high-tech field of geographic information systems within reach for students like you. It provides a basic, non-technical, and friendly introduction in one convenient source. It examines the basic GIS material that is traditionally found throughout the Geography curriculum—e.g., in Cartography, GIS spatial analysis, and quantitative methods. Clarke’s “learn-by-seeing” approach gives you clear, simple explanations, and an abundance of illustrations and photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Terrific Introductory Text
Clarke's Getting Started with GIS has been a staple of the Introductory GIS student's diet for well over a decade.One of the grand masters of Geographic Information Science, Clarke is an authoritative and experienced voice.Unlike other texts that are too parochially associated with one software package, this text is broad enough to be applicable to any GIS class, regardless of software.As in previous editions, Clarke insists on one lengthy chapter that introduces students to cartography, coordinate systems, projections, and geodesy before delving into the nuts and bolts of GIS itself.This text is also replete with numerous, and very up-to-date, websites that offer free data, free software, or GIS community opportunities.Clarke is very current not only with the latest trends of GIS, both with stand-alone software as well as online sources and community, but also devotes an entire chapter to explore the future of GIS.This is excellent preparation for a student looking towards eventual GIS employment.Also, his new chapter on Terrain Analysis is very welcome as it explores not only DEMS but also TINs and contouring.

Finally, ignore other reviews that say this text is out of date because they are referring to an OLDER version of this textbook, NOT this new one, which addresses the very items they are complaining about.It is very misleading to associate those criticisms with this new text.

I teach GIS at the University level and have used this text to great effect.Therefore, this book is highly recommended as a broad and authoritative Introduction to GIS.

useless
the author teaches in UCSB,I took his class last quarter. it was useless and wasting time. the book is expensive and useless.

Not bad for an intro to GIS
This book seems like it would work for an intro class to GIS anywhere from the middle school to the college level (I used it for a graduate level intro course).For the most part, it does a good job introducing broad, central, concepts in GIS without getting too technical or bogged down with detail.

That being said, it also doesn't offer a whole lot to sink your teeth into.Some of the parts are painfully outdated, too.After reading some of the stuff about the advent of the new fandangled world-wide web, I had to check the copyright date.AOL??Really?I also felt like it did a bad job introducing database concepts.Regardless of these flaws, it does work as an intro text.I am now on the 'Thematic Cartography and Geovisualization' text in the series, and I'm hoping it will be a little more useful.

Horribly out of date
As a part time community college GIS instructor, I selected this book as the text for an "Introduction to GIS" course. I should have dug a little deeper and found something better because this book is completely inadequate.My two biggest complaints are: 1) the text is out of date and badly in need of revision.2) the "free" copy of ArcView that comes with the book is obsolete and worthless.

Part of my reason for selecting this book was the trial version of ArcView that you get with it. I thought my students would benefit from having access to their own copy of the software without having to travel to campus to use it. When I tried to install the application, I immediately ran into problems.I called ESRI technical support and when I told them about the problems I was having, it was all they could do to keep themselves from laughing out loud at me.The version of ArcView that is included is AT LEAST SIX YEARS out of date.ESRI no longer supports that version. I might as well have been teaching my students how to drive a chariot for all the good it would have done them.

When I contacted the publisher with my concerns, the two best suggestions they came up with were: 1) call ESRI for help and 2) the author is working on the 6th edition and it should be ready some time next year.Neither idea was particularly helpful.

As for the text itself, it is rather lean on practical and useful information on the current state of the geographic infomation systems. (WARNING: Sarcasm alert!) My favorite part is the book's discussion ofdata sources that mentions the World Wide Web as if it is some recently developed phenomena. The book was originally published in 1997 and gives the feeling that it has been on coasting on autopilot ever since. If you are interested in getting started with Geographic Infomation Systems, find somewhere else to start.

messy
As an "introduction" to GIS this book is muddled. It will begin an explanation very simply and then jump off the deep end, going into complicated, erratic explanations. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Nice reference book!!!
I found this book useful while studying for exams and oral examinations during my Masters program.The thing to remember is this is a ESRI book and uses their terminology.If you are a student I would recommend this book to use a reference.The book isn't going to teach you GIS, it is meant to be used as a reference.So I would still buy the required books for your class.

Very good explanations but could be a little more complete
I've been studying GIS for a few months now on my own, and have often been stuck as to the meaning of a word.
For me this is a very good little book, but it did not even mention some of the projections that are popular in
my country, like the Lambert projections. I am not going to give this book a low mark just for that, because I did pick up
a lot of useful information in a very efficient way.
If you want to go about it the long way get theGeographic Information Systems and Science but you might fall asleep in the process (it's a good book though!!).
The explanations of general computer science concepts like object oriented programming are very introductory, and I would go to the Wikipedia for more detail after if I didnt know the meanings.

So I'll probably give it 5 stars when a second edition comes out.
Still, for the money it's a definite winner, and it's very enjoyable read.

Yea, not so much.
Purchased this book to help with a class I am taking, but it isn't all that helpful. The first 3 terms I looked up were not even in the book, I find it easier to locate definitions via Wiki, rather than this book. I forgot to return it to Amazon within the 30 days.

The bomb: Throw your stale convoluted GIS textbooks under the bus
Have you rummaged through a GIS textbook for half an hour looking for a simple definition, never to find it? Have you wondered why a $100 "introductory" textbook has loads of extraneous information but not a simple glossary, or how it can be written so obtusely and still get past an editing staff? Well, this is the Allen Iverson of GIS books, "The Answer." It gives you GIS concepts clearly and succinctly, with great explanatory illustrations for the "visual learners" out there, which are many in geography I would think. This has been a "go to" book for me in GIS but also in Remote Sensing; there's no question whether to get it, only how much the bookstore will pay you to buy back that unused textbook that you blew $100 on.

Essential to understanding the terminology of both computer and geography worlds.
Books about GIS are usually quite technical, surveying the applications and computer potentials of geographic information systems, so it's refreshing to note that A TO Z GIS: AN ILLUSTRATED DICTIONARY OF GEOGEPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS is something different: a simple set of geography and cartography definitions designed to defines values, coordinates, reference systems, representations, and GIS data processing methods and routines. Students of GIS will find this essential to understanding the terminology of both computer and geography worlds.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch ... Read more

Product Description
Geographic Information Systems and Science is a landmark in the evolution of GIS. It is a book that captures and redefines the richness and diversity of GIS, in an accessible form. It presents a clearly-defined path to a world of learning about GIS, using the Internet and closely-couples reference sources. It is richly produced and illustrated unlike any other in the field, with over 300 full color illustrations.

Geographic Information Systems and Science is unique in several ways. It presents comprehensive treatments of:
*Geographic Information Science - the scientific context to GIS, technical content and geographic implications
*The real value of GIS - illustrated using real world applications. Treatments emphasize operational, tactical and strategic issues
*The impact of Internet GIS on interdisciplinary science and society
*The pivotal role of GIS as a business driver in the information age - including the role of GIS as a business asset and the operational dynamics of its use in practice

The book is the first to provide a gateway to Internet-based classroom and distance learning. A series of modules of the ESRI Virtual Campus have been specially written around the material in this book, and detailed learning guides identify other on-line sources. Additional free supplementary reference material is available through a Web site dedicated to the book
Contents
The book begins by developing the themes of GI Systems and GI Science, and illustrates the practical value of GIS through real case studies. The major parts then consider:
*GIS Principles
*GIS Techniques
*GIS Practice

A concluding section anticipates the future of GIS and prospects for the people who use it.

This book is suitable for 2nd/3rd year undergraduates taking courses in GIS within departments of Geography, Environmental Science, Forestry, Business Studies and Economics, Computer Science, Information Technology, Planning, and Archaeology. It is also suitable as a foundation course taught in M.Sc. and other higher degree programs. Its user-friendly format is designed to appeal to professionals working for federal, state and local organizations.
Paul A. Longley - University College London,UK
David J. Maguire - ESRI, Redlands CA, USA
Michael F. Goodchild - University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
David W. Rhind - City University, London, UK ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good information, but strange use of the English language
This book is a textbook for a course I am taking. The information is good, but the writers use strange sentence construction from time to time, making the material hard to understand, and rather dry.

Highly recommended by GIS instructor
I use this book to teach my university-level students. As someone who prefers a practical approach to GIS, but still wishes to back it up with theory, I have great appreciation for this book. It provides an excellent overview of topics relevant to GIS without overwhelming computer-wary students. Don't be fooled by the colorful, pretty pictures in this book,though-this is a serious primer on almost every theoretical topic related to GIS. My students tell me they especially like how much of the theory is backed up with practical examples. I especially recommend this book to GIS professionals who wish they had a background in Geography. It tells you everything you need to know and little that you don't.

One caveat-if you are not an ESRI user (ArcInfo, ArcView, ArcGIS) this may not be the book for you. Although other software packages are covered in the examples, the focus is heavily on ESRI.

The bar has been raised�
For years I've searched for a GIS textbook comparable in scope and design to the standard Biology, Geography or Physics text.The existing GIS texts were either overly dense or painfully reductionist, lacked the interdisciplinary range necessary to fully represent the art of GISc, were minimally illustrated and designed, and generally failed to inspire students and practitioners alike.The new textbook by Longley, et al, challenges the conventions of the GISc textbook and in the process raises the bar on what we should expect from these texts.

A few of the features of this marvelous text: Illustrated in glorious full color, includes the range of fields and disciplines making use of GISc (Civil Engineering, Geography, Urban Planning, Environmental Science, Business, etc.), presents GIS within its broader scientific context (the "GIScience" in the title), leads the reader through the discipline by first presenting the principles of the field, then the techniques, and finally gives real world examples in its practices section, written at a fundamental level yet doesn't shy away from advanced language and applications when appropriate.

A wonderful addition to GISc literature, I heartily recommend this text for any intermediate GISc course looking to explore the richness of this exciting field. ... Read more

Product Description
With its detailed descriptions of raster data structures and applications, this book serves as a practical guide to how raster imagery is collected, processed, incorporated, and analyzed in vector GIS applications. Over 50 carefully selected case studies depict use of raster imagery in diverse activities.(Keywords:Advanced GIS) ... Read more

Product Description
As Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have developed and their applications have been extended, the issue of uncertainty has become increasingly recognized. Users need to be well aware of the likely impacts of uncertainties in spatial analysis and decision-making. The book discusses theoretical and practical aspects of spatial data processing and uncertainties, covers a wide range of types of errors and fuzziness and emphasizes description and modelling. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume presents a set of coherent, cross-referenced perspectives on incorporating the spatial representation andanalytical power of GIS with agent-based modelling of evolutionary and non-linear processes and phenomena. Many recent advances in software algorithms for incorporating geographic data in modeling social and ecological behaviors, and successes in applying such algorithms, had not been adequately reported in the literature. This book seeks to serve as the standard guide to this broad area. ... Read more

Product Description
This book derives from a training course run by ITC for professionals and managers in the environmental sciences, detailing the applications of remote sensing and GIS for environmental monitoring, modelling and assessment. It sets out current research results and provides operational methods for environmental mapping and monitoring. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Enviromental Modeling with GIS and Remote Sensing
This is not a lite reading book.It is however and excellent reference book one that I highly recommend for anyone's library interested in GIS, remote sensing and their applications - It covers the use of these relatively new tools within various scientific discliplnes, very useful and still up to date formulas, tables and charts and references for further investigation.Very technical and very applicable.Not recommended for everyone. ... Read more

Product Description
A nuts-and-bolts introduction to geographic information systems (GIS), this book outlines the basic concepts and diverse uses of this technology in a local government environment. Emphasizing the value of integrating data from various sources, the book provides a set of tools for improving the way public services are delivered, resources are managed, and policy decisions are made.Rather than stressing the computer technology that is so rapidly changing in the GIS industry, this book concentrates on the concepts upon which this technology is based: information systems design, computer-aided mapping, topological data structures, geographic base files, and land records systems.It also provides the latest information on the U.S. Census Bureau's TIGER files and the Global Positioning Satellite System established by the U.S. Department of Defense.Special features include fourteen case studies, a chapter describing the enormous effort required to set up and manage a typical GIS project, and an appendix on who is using GIS technology and how it is being used.Whether they run the GIS or help run the government, readers of An Introduction to Urban Geographic Information Systems will learn efficient and effective methods for improving the impact that local government has on its citizens. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

The implications of pushing buttons
Like any edited volume, the chapters are hit and miss.There's a great chapter by Peter Taylor and Ronald Johnston that indicts a data-led geography as having a corrupted practice of research.I recommend it to any person interested in a philosophy of geographic information technology. ... Read more

Product Description
Remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) are inherently linked technologies. Together, they form a powerful tool to measure, map, monitor and model resources and environmental data for both scientific and commercial applications. Originally published in 1997, this book brought together work by leaders in the field to address improved techniques, applications and research in integrated remote sensing and geographical information systems. Among the topics covered are image rectification, change detection, visualisation, computer modelling, local land use planning, requirements of GIS in global change research, and potential directions for research. Remote sensing and GIS play a key role in studies of water resources, air quality, topography, land cover, and population location and dynamics, and specialists working at the local, regional and global levels will find this book a valuable and stimulating resource. ... Read more

Product Description
To understand the power of Geographical Information Systems and Geographical Positioning Systems today, it is essential to understand their background and history, and the needs they were designed to answer .This is the first comprehensive history of GIS for both practitioners and students.From GPS systems that help you find your destination in a rented car, to satellite imaging for locating new petroleum reserves, GIS technology is changing the world. This book brings together for the first time the expert testimonies of the pioneers, key scientists and entrepreneurs who created the GIS field and made it what it is today. It covers both the raster and vector sides of GIS development. From remote sensing to PC-based systems; from Land Information Systems to defense applications, this is the definitive history of GIS.For all GIS and GPS professional practitioners, developers and students. ... Read more

Product Description
Geographic information systems (GIS) are moving out of thecomputer lab and into the community. In the 12 stories presented in Zeroing In,people who use GIS in their daily jobs talk about how the technology helps themget the information they need to work smarter and make better decisions. Thebook shows GIS at work in every aspect of community life: schools, public safety,housing, economic growth, and more.

An accessible and engaging introduction to geographic information systems (GIS)for government officials, business people, planners, teachers--indeed, anyone whodeals with maps and geographic information.Readers will learn how they can useGIS to work more efficiently and improve the quality of life in your community.Please read the Excerpt section on this page for more information. ... Read more

Product Description
By utilizing geographic information systems (GIS), scientists can nowmake better models to study how water behaves. The papers included inthis book were among those presented at a recent ESRI InternationalUser Conference on hydrologic and hydraulic water quantity modelingsupport using GIS. The techniques presented in these models apply toany hydrologic or hydraulic model that requires spatial input or thatproduces spatial output. Applications such as watershed delineation,topographic characteristic extraction, floodplain extentdetermination, and others provide an informed basis for sound decisionmaking for water source professionals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The future of H&H Modeling
This book provides an overview of not only the theory and computational methodologies ofboth Hydraulic and Hydrologic modeling in ArcView, but provides real world modeling examples.This publication is a great quick overview of cutting edge modeling.Note that most of the Corp of Engineering extensions show cased in this book require that you are using ArcView 3.x and they currently do not run on ArcGIS 8. ... Read more

Product Description
The use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the health sector is an idea whose time has come.The current applications of GIS in health are diverse and extensive. The present GIS environment is heavily driven by technology and such an approach is indeed logical for the most part. However, the needs of less-developed countries in utilizing the concepts and technologies of mapping should not be neglected in the continuing evolution of GIS.Geographic Information Systems and Health Applications presents ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Comprehensive and interesting
I thought the book was a nice compilation of work from around the world.It is not exhaustive like a textbook but the fact that each chapter is a seprate entity makes it interesting reading.Chapters cover some major themes of interest in GIS. I liked it and will probably use individual chapters as course material. It should be good for practitioners too.The format would be good for a continuing series along the lines of this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This book contains state-of-the-art research studies on the concepts, theory, processes, and real world applications of geographical information systems (GIS) in business. Its chapters are authored by many of the leading experts in applying GIS and geospatial science to business. The book utilizes a wide variety of approaches and methodologies including conceptual theory development, research frameworks, quantitative and qualitative methods, case studies, systems design, DSS theory, and geospatial analysis combined with point-of-sale. Since relatively little research has been published on GIS in business, this book is pioneering and should be the principal compendium of the latest research in this area. The book impacts not only the underlying definitions, concepts, and theories of GIS in business and industry, but its practice as well. ... Read more

Product Description
Over the last two decades there has been increasing recognition that problems in Oceanography and Fisheries Sciences and related marine areas are nearly all manifest in the spatio-temporal domain. Geographical Information Systems (GIS), the natural framework for spatial data handling, are being recognised as a powerful tool with useful applications in marine sciences. This book provides a thorough examination of marine GIS applications that include a high variety of methods and sophisticated approaches in coastal, continental shelf, and deep ocean studies. It presents new innovative approaches of using GIS in the examination of the dynamic relations that characterize the marine world, including marine GIS macro routines for the development of Oceanography and Fisheries GIS tools and applications.
Some application examples include: the mapping of fish production data (catch and landings); the identification of essential fish habitats; and the mapping of species migration corridors. ... Read more

Product Description

The Workshop Proceedings introduce research results received in the areas of GIS and technologies in relation with Corporate Information Systems (CIS). In this context the attention is also paid to a wide range of problems of data harmonization, integration and fusion (HIF) concept regarding CIS. The book deals with conventional problems of information integration, development of GIS and GIS-applications to a wide spectrum of information systems considerably varying in purpose and scale. New class of GIS – intelligent GIS is considered including principles of their developing and programming technologies. Special attention is drawn to ontologies’ development and their use in GIS and GIS-applications.