Customer Reviews

Geographic Information Systems: Socioeconomic Applications

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is intended to provide a general, non-technical introduction to the field of GIS. More specifically, it is aimed at those with a particular interest in the socioeconomic environment. In the following chapters, the reader will find an explanation of GIS technology, its theory and its applications, which makes specific reference to data on populations and their characteristics. The aim is not to provide detailed analysis of fields such as database management systems (DBMS) or computer graphics, which may be found elsewhere, but to introduce GIS within a strong framework of socioeconomic applications:

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction
2. The development of GIS
3. GIS applications
4. Theories of GIS
5. Data collection and input
6. Data storage
7. Data manipulation
8. Data output and display
9. Towards a socio-economic GIS
10. Conclusion.

Although the data used in the examples are out of date (mostly 1991), its socioeconomic content is for the purposes of demonstrating the use of GIS in this context: It is therefore still usable for developing an understanding of GIS for socioeconomic applications. The topics chosen for discussion are felt to be sufficiently well established and enduring that they will aid readers in understanding the important aspects of specific systems with which they may come into contact.

(For more detailed technical applications of GIS (that would follow nicely after reading this book), I recommend "Getting Started with Geographic Information Systems" by Keith C. Clarke, which can be used in conjunction with "Getting to Know ArcView GIS" by Pat Breslin. Data is interchangeable between the GIS programs that come with each book. Make sure the software comes with 2nd-hand books that may be bought.)
_________________________________