Introduction to Geographic Information Systems with Data Files CD-ROM [Hardcover]

Kang-tsung Chang (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 007729436X | ISBN-13: 978-0077294366 | Publication Date: January 16, 2009 | Edition: 5

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, 5e is designed to provide students in a first or second GIS course with a solid foundation in both GIS concepts and the use of GIS. Introduction to GIS strikes a careful balance between GIS concepts and hands-on applications. The main portion of the chapter presents GIS terms and concepts and helps students learn how each one fits into a complete GIS system. At the end of each chapter, an application section with 2-7 tasks presents students with actual GIS exercises and the necessary data to solve the problem.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karl Chang is a professor at the University of Idaho.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math; 5 edition (January 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 007729436X
• ISBN-13: 978-0077294366
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Earth Sciences > Geography > Information Systems

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars reads more like an encyclopedia than a textbook, October 1, 2009

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Sarah Woods (Edinburgh, UK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems with Data Files CD-ROM (Hardcover)

This textbook covers a LOT of information. Unfortunately, it reads like an encyclopedia on GIS-- definitely NOT like a textbook for beginners. It is a good reference book, but is very user-unfriendly for the novice. Endless terminology is presented with little or no conceptual explanations. Each chapter has a corresponding ArcGIS exercise in which you are asked to answer questions which were not really addressed in preceeding material. Honestly, my Intro to GIS prof. isn't really using the text at all.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Buy Bolstad's Book Instead, March 12, 2010

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Robert Zitowsky "rzitowsk" (Albany, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems with Data Files CD-ROM (Hardcover)

This book is not very well-written. I agree with the previous reader that it reads more like an encyclopedia than a textbook. It discussed practical topics, but in a very theoretical way. The exercises do walk you through ArcGIS examples step by step, but they do have some mistakes in there. All of the examples use the same data from Idaho. If you are looking foor a book that is a good read with interesting exercises, this is not the book for you. Instead, try Bolstad's Intro to GIS.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the best "intro", July 25, 2011

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CDW - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Introduction to Geographic Information Systems with Data Files CD-ROM (Hardcover)

We used this text very selectively throughout the semester. This was my 3rd GIS course and I can see why the other reviewers found it hard to use for a introduction to GIS. We used the later chapters as a supplement to our primary text and also did a few of the initial exercises as somewhat of a refresher. As someone that feel comfortable in ArcMap, this text left me guessing at times as to what they were expecting me to do in an exercise.

All in all, there are better books out there for introductions to GIS, but this could be an O.K. refresher for someone that maybe hasn't touched GIS in a few years.