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Geographic Information Science (GIS) is a sub-field of geography concerned with the acquisition, storage, analysis and communication of geographic information. In addition, GIS involves primary research on the manner in which knowledged is acquired from spatially referenced data. Clark University has been a leading institution in the development of GIS since the mid-1980s. |
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Is GIS for Me?
Are you concerned about the environment?
GIS has become a major tool for the analysis and modeling of environmental issues. For example, GIS can be used to model such issues as soil erosion arising from varying farming practices, non-point source pollution (such as fertilizers and pesticides) entering rivers as a result of suburban development and changes in species composition and numbers as a result of habitat changes. In the image below, we see an analysis of areas along a section of the north-central coast of Vietnam that are expected to be flooded in the year 2100 as a result of global sea level rise.
Are you interested in maps?
GIS and Remote Sensing have greatly changed our ideas about maps. For example, the map below is composed of three map layers: a land cover layer, a roads layer and a text layer. The display can instantly be changed by clicking any of these layers on or off using the check arrows on the composer tool to the right. This too also allows you to add or remove layers.
Unlike a traditional map, a GIS map can easily be queried. For example, clicking on any location will display information about that feature (such as the road classification). It also shows you the exact coordinates. Further, you can click on any legend box to see all areas of that land cover type be highlighted.
Also, unlike a traditional map, you can zoom in or out to see the data at many scales. Likewise, you can move your point of view in any direction.
Do you like working with computer software?
All GIS operations are ultimately mathematical in character, most GIS professionals do not have any great depth of mathematical knowledge. Using GIS requires one to think analytically, but rarely with any great mathematical depth. For most, an understanding of high-school mathematics and an undergraduate-level exposure to statistics is all that is needed. That said, for those with a stronger mathematical background, and in particular a computer programming ability, the potential is enormous.
Would you like to be involved with decisions that affect your community?
GIS is primarily a decision support tool. Clark has been particularly active in developing the kinds of multi-criteria/multi-objective GIS decision support tools that have enormous potential for the rational development of planning decisions. Today, GIS is used by the majority of municipal and local governments in the U.S. and Canada, with an expectation that it will eventually be a mainstay of planning in every community worldwide. In the analysis below, for example, we see the development of suitability maps in the process of considering the rezoning of a municipality.
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Geographic information system software allows for the analysis of complex models. This set of screen shots shows the result of food security vulnerability analysis for West Africa. Image created using Clark Labs's IDRISI software. Click to enlarge. |
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Additional Resources
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