An Introduction to GIS

Question 1

What is a GIS?

Answer 1

A GIS is a computer-based system to aid in the collection, maintenance, storage, analysis, output, and distribution of spatial data information.

Question 2

Open Geospatial Consortium

Answer 2

Standards for data formats, documentation, program interactions, and transmission have been developed and published, and lists of standards-compliant software compiled.

Question 3

ArcGIS

Answer 3

ArcGIS, in its various online, desktop, and server versions, comprises the most popular GIS software suite at the time of this writing.

Question 4

ESRI

Answer 4

ESRI, the developer of ArcGIS has a worldwide presence.

Question 5

QGIS

Answer 5

QGIS is an open-source software project, an initiative under the Open Source Geospatial Foundation.

Question 6

GeoMedia

Answer 6

GeoMedia is particularly adept at integrating data from divergent sources, formats, and platforms. The GIS suite from Hexagon Geospatial.

Question 7

MapInfo

Answer 7

Now part of Pitney Bowes. Concentrated in many businesses and municipal applications.

Question 8

Idrisi

Answer 8

Provides both image processing and GIS functions.

Question 9

Manifold

Answer 9

Manifold GIS has focused on rapid computations for large spatial databases, and in providing sophisticated image editing capabilities in a spatially referenced framework.

Question 10

AUTOCAD MAP 3D

Answer 10

AUTOCAD is the world’s largest-selling computer drafting and design package. AUTOCAD MAP 3D adds substantial analytical capability to the already complete set o data input, coordinate manipulation, and data output tools provided by AUTOCAD

Question 11

GRASS

Answer 11

GRASS, the Geographic Resource Analysis Support System, is a free, open-source GIS that runs on many platforms. Originally developed by the U.S. Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory in the 1980s.

Question 12

MicroImages

Answer 12

MicroImages produces TNTmips, an integrated remote sensing, GIS, and CAD software package.

Question 13

ERDAS

Answer 13

ERDAS (Earth Resources Data Analysis System) now owned and developed by Hexagon Geospatial, began as an image processing system. A comprehensive set of tools for cell-based data analysis.

Question 14

ENVI

Answer 14

ENVI is another GIS software package with origins in digital image processing. Recent updates have focused on tools for processing images from small, unmanned aerial drones.

Question 15

SuperMap

Answer 15

SuperMap is a Hong Kong based company that provides a broad range of GIS software, including desktop, cloud-based, vector, raster, and 3D analysis.

Question 16

Spatial R

Answer 16

R is an open source software project with many spatial packages.

Question 17

Python

Answer 17

Python is a general-purpose programing language with several available spatial libraries.

Question 18

GDAL

Answer 18

GDAL is a standard set of spatial input/output and data processing functions, which ma interfaces with both R and Python. Together, these tools support sophisticated GIS analysis.