About the Book This book on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provides a rigorous but balanced treatment of concepts and techniques needed to use GIS in all its forms and imple-mentations. Today, GIS has become an important field of academic study and one of the fastest growing sectors of the information technology (IT) industry. Simply stated, GIS is a computing system capable of managing geographic data and using these data to solve spatial problems. Designed as a textbook by eminent authors who have years of academic and industry experience in GIS, this book fulfils the need for a balanced guide for courses in Geographic Information Systems. The book attempts to define the set of skills and knowledge for GIS students, academics, and practitioners. It makes the study of GIS from the broader context of information technology in general, and information resource management in particular. Besides providing a complete coverage of every stage of the systems development life cycle of GIS, this book also adequately covers topics such as the principles and practice of information resource management, information system development methodology, spatial database modeling and design, as well as the implementation of GIS in the enterprise information technology environment. Table of Contents All chapters include an Introduction, Summary and References. 1. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Definition of GIS and Related Terminology. The Evolution of GIS. Components of GIS. Approaches to the Study of GIS. 2. Maps and GIS. Map Scale. Classes of Maps. The Mapping Process. Plane Coordinate Systems and Transformations. Geographic Coordinate System of Earth. Map Projection. Establishing a Spatial Framework for Mapping locations on Earth: Georeferencing. Acquisition of Spatial Data for the Terrain: Topographic Mapping. Attribute Data for Thematic Mapping. 3. Digital Representation of Geographic Data. Technical Issues Pertaining to Digital Representation of Geographic Data. Database and Database Management Systems. Raster Geographic Data Representation. Vector Data Representation. Object-Oriented Geographic Data Representation. The Relationship Between Data Representation and Data Analysis in GIS. 4. Data Quality and Data Standards. Concepts and Definitions of Data Quality. Components of Geographic Data Quality. Assessment of Data Quality. Managing Spatial Data Errors. Geographic Data Standards. Geographic Data Standards and GIS Development. 5. Raster-Based GIS Data Processing. Acquiring and Handling Raster Geographic Data. Raster-Based GIS Data Analysis. Output Functions of Raster Data Processing. Cartographic Modeling. 6. Vector-Based GIS Data Processing. Characteristics of Vector-Based GIS Data Processing. Vector Data Input Functions. Nontopological GIS Analysis Functions. Feature-Based Topological Functions. Layer-Based Topological Functions. Vector-Based Output Functions. Application Programming. 7. Visualization of Geographic Information and Generation of Information Products. Cartography in the context of GIS. Human-Computer Interaction and GIS. Visualization of Geographic Information. Principles of Cartographic Design in GIS. Generation of Information Products. 8. Remote Sensing and GIS Integration. Principles of Electromagnetic Remote Sensing. Remote Sensing system Classifications. Imaging Characteristics of Remote Sensing systems. Extraction of Metric Information from Remotely Sensed Images. Extraction of Thematic (Descriptive of Attribute) Information from Remotely Sensed Images. Integration of Remote Sensing and GIS. 9. Digital Terrain Modeling. Definitions and Terminology. Approaches to Digital Terrain Data Sampling. Acquisition of Digital Terrain Data. Data Processing, Analysis, and Visualization. Applications of Digital Terrain Models. 10. Spatial Analysis and Modeling. Descriptive Statistics. Spatial Autocorrelation. Quadrat Counts and Nearest-Neighbor Analysis. Trend Surface Analysis. Gravity Models. Network Analysis. GIS Modeling. 11. GIS Implementation and Project Management. Software Engineering as Applied to GIS. GIS Project Planning. Systems Analysis and User Requirements Studies. Geographic Database Design Methodology. Systems Implementation and Technology Rollout. Systems Maintenance and Technical Support. 12. GIS Issues and Prospects. Issues of Implementing GIS. The Trends of GIS Development. Frontiers of GIS Research. Conclusions. Appendix A: Internet Resources for GIS. Where to Start the Search? Pointers to Information Resources. Pointers to Product Information. Examples of Internet-Based GIS Applications. Major GIS, Cartography, Remote Sensing, Photogrammetry, and Surveying Journals. Appendix B: Glossary of GIS Terms. Index.