Geo Informatics I

Our Topics This Semester

• Introduction to Geo informatics
• Introduction to geo computation
• Sources of geo data (remote sensing, imagery,
raster data, vector data)
• Geo data design
• Geo statistics
• Spatial modelling
• Geo visualisation
• Geo informatics platforms.
 Introduction to Geo informatics
• Geoinformatics is defined as the combination of
technology and science dealing by means of the spatial
information, its acquisition, its qualification and
classification, its processing, storage and dissemination.
• It is an integral tool to collect process and generate
information from spatial and non spatial data.
• Geoinformatics is an appropriate blending of modules
like remote sensing, global positioning system,
geographical information system and relational
database management system
• Geoinformatics is the science and technology
of gathering, analyzing, interpreting,
distributing, and using geospatial information.
It encompasses a broad range of disciplines
brought together to create a detailed but
understandable picture of the physical world
and our place in it or Geo-informatics is the
science and art of measuring , storing,
organizing , analyzing and visualizing data
related to phenomena occurring on or near
the earth’s surface.
• Geoinformatics is the science and the
technology which develops and uses
information science infrastructure to address
the problems of geography, cartography,
geosciences and related branches of science
and engineering.
 Defn Cont…
• Geoinformatics has been described as "the science
and technology dealing with the structure and
character of spatial information, its capture, its
classification and qualification, its storage,
processing, portrayal and dissemination, including
the infrastructure necessary to secure optimal use
of this information” or "the art, science or
technology dealing with the acquisition, storage,
processing production, presentation and
dissemination of geoinformation".
 Geomatics
• Geomatics is a similarly used term which
encompasses geoinformatics, but geomatics
focuses more so on surveying.
• Geoinformatics has at its core the technologies supporting the
processes of acquisition, analysis and visualization of spatial data.
Both geomatics and geoinformatics include and rely heavily upon
the theory and practical implications of geodesy. Geography and
earth science increasingly rely on digital spatial data acquired
from remotely sensed images analyzed by
geographical information systems (GIS), photo interpretation of
aerial photographs, and Web mining. Geoinformatics combines
geospatial analysis and modeling, development of geospatial
databases, information systems design, human-computer
interaction and both wired and wireless networking technologies.
Geoinformatics uses geocomputation and geovisualization for
analyzing geoinformation.
 Branches constituting Geoinformatics
• Cartography
• Geodesy
• Satellite Navigation
• Photogrammetry
• Remote Sensing
• Spatial analysis
• Web Mapping
• Navigation
• Cartography-the study and practice of making and using maps
• Geodesy-is the Earth science of accurately measuring and understanding Earth's figure (geometric
shape and size), orientation in space, and gravity. The field also incorporates studies of how these
properties change over time and equivalent measurements for other planets
• Satellite Navigation-system is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial
positioning. It allows satellite navigation devices to determine their location (longitude, latitude,
and altitude/elevation) to high precision (within a few centimetres to metres) using time
signals transmitted along a line of sight by radio from satellites.
• Photogrammetry-is the science and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects
and the environment through the process of recording, measuring and interpreting photographic images
and patterns of electromagnetic radiant imagery and other phenomena
• Remote Sensing- is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making
physical contact with the object, in contrast to in situ or on-site observation. In current usage, the
term remote sensing generally refers to the use of satellite- or aircraft-based sensor technologies to
detect and classify objects on Earth. It includes the surface and the atmosphere and oceans, based
on propagated signals (e.g. electromagnetic radiation)
• Spatial analysis-Spatial analysis or spatial statistics includes any of the formal techniques which studies
entities using their topological, geometric, or geographic properties. Place and route analysis
• Web Mapping-is the process of using the maps delivered by geographic information systems (GIS) on
the Internet, more specifically in the World Wide Web (WWW). A web map or an online map is both
served and consumed, thus web mapping is more than just web cartography, it is a service by which
consumers may choose what the map will show
• Navigation-is a field of study that focuses on the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of
a craft or vehicle from one place to another. The field of navigation includes four general categories: land
navigation, marine navigation, aeronautic navigation, and space navigation. All navigational techniques
involve locating the navigator's position compared to known locations or patterns. Navigation, in a
broader sense, can refer to any skill or study that involves the determination of position and direction. In
this sense, navigation includes orienteering and pedestrian navigation.
Tools and techniques in Geoinformatics
• Global positioning system - The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a
satellite-based navigation system that can be used to locate positions
anywhere on the earth. GPS provides continuous (24 hours/day), real-time,
3-dimensional positioning, navigation and timing worldwide in any weather
condition.
• Remote Sensing Technique- Remote sensing (RS) is the science of making
inferences about material objects from measurements, made at distance,
without coming into physical contact with the objects under study. A remote
sensing system consists of a sensor to collect the radiation and a platform –
an aircraft, balloon, rocket, satellite or even a ground-based sensor-
supporting stand - on which a sensor can be mounted
• Geographical Information System- GIS is a computerized data storage and
retrieval system, which can be used to manage and analyze spatial data. GIS
can display analyzed information in maps that allow better understanding of
interactions among different factors, and decision-making based on such
spatial relationships. Eg a farm information systems (FIS) such as LORIS.
 Applications
• Many fields benefit from geoinformatics, including urban planning and land
use management, in-car navigation systems, virtual globes, public health, local
and national gazetteer management, environmental modeling and analysis,
military, transport network planning and management, agriculture,
meteorology and climate change, oceanography and coupled ocean and
atmosphere modelling, business location planning, architecture and
archeological reconstruction, telecommunications, criminology and crime
simulation, aviation, biodiversity conservation and maritime transport.
• Geoinformatics becomes very important technology to decision-makers across
a wide range of disciplines, industries, commercial sector, environmental
agencies, local and national government, research, and academia, national
survey and mapping organisations, International organisations, United
Nations, emergency services, public health and epidemiology, crime mapping,
transportation and infrastructure, information technology industries, GIS
consulting firms, environmental management agencies), tourist industry,
utility companies, market analysis and e-commerce, mineral exploration, etc.