GIS MODULE PRACTICAL EXERCISES. Lesson 1: Basic Principles

The World Bank VSS eLearning GIS MODULE PRACTICAL EXERCISES Lesson 1: Basic Principles 1 The World Bank VSS eLearning 1. Introduction The main ...
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The World Bank

VSS eLearning

GIS MODULE PRACTICAL EXERCISES Lesson 1: Basic Principles

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VSS eLearning

1. Introduction The main premise of the practical exercises for the GIS Module is to test the user’s understanding of basic geotechnology principles, uses and spatial reasoning. Therefore we will not be doing any GIS software specific exercises, since it requires the user to have the actual software installed. We will therefore focus on the generic aspects of Geotechnology and how these aspects can be used to solve certain real world problems. The exercises should only be attempted after completing all three PowerPoint sections of the GIS Module, since some of the exercises incorporate elements from all three sections. The practical exercises are designed to test some of the knowledge gained working through the GIS module while also ensuring that the user becomes familiar with the look and feel of GIS and basic geographic operations. Some exercises will focus on theoretical knowledge but most will focus on practical geographic and GIS operations. For our purposes, we will use the virtual globe and geo-exploration applications available via the Internet to implement these exercises. The virtual globe application we will use is Google Earth and the geo-exploration applications will be Google Maps and PolicyMap. For most of the practical exercises therefore, a reliable Internet connection is required. 2. Kick-starting your brain 2.1 Multiple choice questions The questions are designed to get you thinking about GIS and geography, before we move on to the practical exercises. Choose the best or most appropriate answer(s) to the question. 1. Which of the following are examples of non-spatial data? a) The number of rooms in an office building. b) The path of a highway between two cities. c) The total population of Johannesburg, South Africa. d) The intersection of two streets. e) The site of the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda. f) The Lebombo region in Swaziland 2. Spatial data can be described as: a) Data that has a geographic element b) Data containing an area attribute c) Data concerned with measurements 3. What is georeferencing? a) Aligning your data with a location on the Earth’s surface b) Converting data to a feature class c) Projecting your data so that it has no distortion 4. Deforestation is occurring in many countries and it is therefore difficult to detect the ongoing damage. Which of the following types of remote sensing would be best suited for locating deforestation? a) Thermal infrared b) Microwave c) Radar d) Sonar e) Colour Infrared 5. Multispectral remote sensing allows researchers to obtain data about Earth in areas of the electromagnetic spectrum beyond what the eye can see. If you were studying the effects of drought on vegetation, which portion of the electromagnetic spectrum would provide the most pertinent data? a) Thermal infrared b) Middle infrared

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c) Near infrared d) Blue spectrum e) Red spectrum To compare, overlay, or cross-analyze two maps in a GIS a) both maps must be in digital form b) both maps must be in the same map projection c) both maps must be at the same equivalent scale d) both maps must be on the same coordinate system e) all of the above An automated system for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial data is known as a) a GPS b) Remote sensing c) a GIS d) None of the above Living vegetation appears ………….. on false-color IR images a) White b) Black c) Blue d) Red Which form of representation does a paper map use? a) Analogue b) Digital c) Binary d) Decimal Consider the following graphic, which is an extract of a 1:50000 topographic map sheet for Swaziland. Study it carefully and then answer the questions below, specifying true or false for each question. a) Roads are depicted as line features. True or false? b) Rivers are depicted as area features. True or false? c) Building structures are depicted as point features. True or false? d) Contours are depicted as area features. True or false? e) The Golf course is depicted as an area feature. True or false?

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3. Using Google Earth to explore basic GIS principles For this practical exercise, we are going to do some basic geographic operations using Google Earth. The purpose is to familiarise the user with the look and feel of geographic visualisation applications and some of its functionality. It will also allow users to experience the data overlay principle which is central to GIS. In order to complete this practical exercise therefore, you need to have Google Earth installed on your PC or laptop. You would also need reliable Internet access. If you do not have Google Earth installed, browse to the following website link and download and install Google Earth - http://earth.google.com. 3.1 Downloading and installing Google Earth We will use the free version of Google Earth in this exercise.

Click on this button to download the installer programme

Click on the Agree and Download button to commence download

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Firstly, the Installer programme will be downloaded. Run the GoogleEarthSetup.exe installer file to download the software.

The following task bar should appear, indicating that you are busy downloading the software.

The program will download and install automatically. Once installation has been completed the program will automatically start up. If it does not, go to your “All Programs” menu to open the program. You should view the following:

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Close the Tip Box to view the globe. Notice how the coordinates and elevation displayed at the bottom of the screen changes as you move the mouse pointer across the globe.

Latitude and Longitude Coordinates and Elevation readings changes as mouse pointer is moved across the globe.

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3.2 Answers to Section 2.1 The correct answer is highlighted in bold. 1. Which of the following are examples of non-spatial data? f) The number of rooms in an office building. g) The total population of Johannesburg, South Africa. h) The intersection of two streets. i) The site of the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda. j) The Lebombo region in Swaziland 2. Spatial data can be described as: a. Data that has a geographic element b. Data containing an area attribute c. Data concerned with measurements 3. What is georeferencing? a. Aligning your data with a location on the Earth’s surface b. Converting data to a feature class c. Projecting your data so that it has no distortion 4. Deforestation is occurring in many countries and it is therefore difficult to detect the ongoing damage. Which of the following types of remote sensing would be best suited for locating deforestation? a. Thermal infrared b. Microwave c. Radar d. Sonar e. Colour Infrared 5. Multispectral remote sensing allows researchers to obtain data about Earth in areas of the electromagnetic spectrum beyond what the eye can see. If you were studying the effects of drought on vegetation, which portion of the electromagnetic spectrum would provide the most pertinent data? a. Thermal infrared b. Middle infrared c. Near infrared d. Blue spectrum e. Red spectrum 6. To compare, overlay, or cross-analyze two maps in a GIS a. both maps must be in digital form b. both maps must be in the same map projection c. both maps must be at the same equivalent scale d. both maps must be on the same coordinate system e. all of the above 7. An automated system for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial data is known as a. a GPS b. Remote sensing c. a GIS d. None of the above 8. Living vegetation appears ………….. on false-color IR images a. White b. Black c. Blue d. Red 9. Which form of representation does a paper map use? a. Analogue b. Digital

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c. Binary d. Decimal 10. Consider the following graphic, which is an extract of a 1:50000 topographic map sheet for Swaziland. Study it carefully and then answer the questions below, specifying true or false for each question. a. Roads are depicted as line features. True or false? b. Rivers are depicted as area features. True or false? c. Building structures are depicted as point features. True or false? d. Contours are depicted as area features. True or false? e. The Golf course is depicted as an area feature. True or false?

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