Practical GIS Analysis (Hardcover)

by David L. Verbyla (Author) "This is a book about GIS analysis tools..." (more)
Key Phrases: processed nodes list, last processed node, planted spruce seedlings, Poplar River, Moose Creek, Area Perimeter (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A word to characterise this book is simplicity. The fact that the book presents more than eighty GIS problems (and their solutions) is a definite plus for lecturers and self-learners…Overall, this book is a good addition to the library of GIS beginners, lecturers at undergraduate level and professionals working in natural sciences who are interested in learning very basic GIS tools for spatial analysis. It covers in a very simple way, with minimal text and profuse use of graphics and tables, the basic topics related to point, line, polygon and grid analysis…
-ISPRS Highlights, Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2004

A word to characterise this book is simplicity. The fact that the book presents more than eighty GIS problems (and their solutions) is a definite plus for lecturers and self-learners…Overall, this book is a good addition to the library of GIS beginners, lecturers at undergraduate level and professionals working in natural sciences who are interested in learning very basic GIS tools for spatial analysis. It covers in a very simple way, with minimal text and profuse use of graphics and tables, the basic topics related to point, line, polygon and grid analysis…
-ISPRS Highlights, Vol. 9, No. 2, June 2004

Product Description
The hard part of problem solving using GIS analysis is the selection of the proper tools. David Verbyla has produced the only practical guide for solving geo-spatial problems which is independent of specific GIS software and hardware. It will teach you how GIS tools work, and how you can use them to solve problems in both vector and grid GIS worlds. You can test your problem solving abilities by trying the more than eighty GIS problems (and solutions) presented in this book. If you want to learn how GIS works, and what kinds of problems you can solve using it, this book is for you.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: CRC; 1 edition (April 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415286093
• ISBN-13: 978-0415286091
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,662,638 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Practical GIS, October 22, 2003

By A Customer

This books is good if you want to understand
how GIS works (what goes on conceptually
behind the buttons and toolbars).

I found the chapters on dynamic segmentation
and network analysis to be really good at
explaining how routes, sections and events
are linked together, how address geocoding,
optimal routing, and resource allocation work
in a GIS.

The chapter on image analysis was good if you
have limited background in imagery: contrast
enhancement, image rectification, supervised
and unsupervised classification, accuracy assessment,etc.

Although the chapter on "Saving time in GIS Analysis"
is primarily command line arc/info examples, some
of the concepts such as good documentation files,
and "assume your GIS lies" are good ideas.

The book uses examples primarily from arc/info
commands and has nothing about geodatabases, spatial
database engines, map coordinates or projections or datums,
etc. The book's value is in explaining how GIS works
from a conceptual level, with good exercises and solutions
for each chapter. I wish it were soft-cover and about half
the price.