Getting Started
As part of my EPQ I have decided to create a log of progress in learning to use GIS. To understand whether the benefits of GIS outweigh the disadvantages properly I will need to use the software and develop a first hand opinion as well as an understanding of how others in different industries feel about the technology and how they use it. To do this I chose to download ArcGIS. This is the most advanced and commonly used GIS software which advertises itself as easy to use while also creating useful, attractive geospatial maps.
After downloading the software I began by doing what most people do on other geospatial maps, i found my house. To do this I searched my postcode through UK postcodes in base maps. From there I was able to see my current location and navigate the rest of the area from there. Any study of my local area I wanted to carry out, I could now do so.
These base maps include a variety of satellite images, topographic maps, NatGeo maps and street maps. After playing around with these for a while I got the hand of the navigation system which works on either map coordinates or a click and drag navigation reminiscent of google maps/earth. First hand use ha helped my understanding of base maps and how a variety is needed for the huge variety of studies requiring GIS.
After deciding on a base map I began looking into the pre-existing layers and found that the downloadable layers, although some where basic, where quite extensive. These included hydraulic systems, geopolitical boundaries, weather stations, transport and thousands more. Although I predict that creating new layers will be far more difficult, layering information with this exiting data was seemingly very simple.
After searching through these I decided I would create a GIS showing population density in relation to hydraulic systems. This would allow me to understand both why certain area's population increased and where water is harder to come by. Although this is a very basic form of GIS this is just one example of how governments, charities and NGOs may use GIS in relation to water scarcity.
After just a few minutes of using this software I was able to create a map with three layers: A national geographic map, a 'World hydro reference overlay' and a 2010 population density map. Although the data is outdated, creating this map took a matter of minutes. After organising them into layers with the Hydraulic map at the top, population underneath that and the National Geographic map as a base the general trends and geospatial relationship was clear. I could now navigate the map to see clusters of population which as expected in most cases are nucleated around bodies of water for example in Egypt.
All in all so far creating GIS with ArcGIS has been quite simple. I have beanpole to see trends and develop my own maps after just a few minutes of working with the software. Despite this, I have not begun to work with my own vectors and polygons. I have a feeling this could be much harder than using preloaded data.
As a part of my EPQ I am researching the private sector uses of GIS. After researching companies such as TSCG who aid in retail real estate using GIS I have decided to create my own GIS showing why my local Co-operative local has decided to locate itself where it is.
