The History of GIS

The History of GIS

Coppock, J.T. and Rhind, D.W. (1991). The History of GIS. Geographic Information Systems: A Guide to Technology”. Volume 1, 21-43.

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           Mapping can encompass many meanings. In one way or another this article, “The History of GIS” dissects, transcends, and explicates the fuzzy details, boundaries and execution of Geographic Information Systems. The authors start off suggesting a need for enough users to be willing to not only use GIS, but also- and more importantly, touch upon the nature of it- sharing their knowledge with the public, contributing to the literature of it. One of first groups to publish an article concerning GIS was the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association. (URISA). Founded in 1963 and having created its own journal in 1983, URISA was devoted primarily to GIS.  Soon after, many other papers were published, spreading the word of all the possibilities that lied ahead and all the capabilities of a Geographic Information System.

            With the up rise of GIS talk through journals and the like, a GIS timeline emerged from the compilation of records throughout history. A workable, malleable definition capturing its holistic qualities and evolution materialized through literature, encompassing the many incentives and motives for GIS ranging from personal interests, academic inquiry, to ascertaining that GIS is the single, most effective way for one to express their work. Success came about through countless mishaps, mistakes, and unwavering attempts. GIS became known as a means to better represent geography through a computerized model, transferring to a map of considerable value.

            The first attempt to automate map production appeared in the mid- 1900’s.  A modified punch card tabulator represented maps on printed card paper and set the stage for soon-to-be widespread map printing in the 1960s. A few years later, in 1967, typewriters were modified in Paris to be driven solely by punch card readers, enabling the production of proportional symbol maps. From the 1950’s onward, America specifically had become the birthplace of GIS. In the 1950’s a group of transportation engineers and geographers developed quantitative measurements of transportation at the University of Washington, representing the first few efforts towards GIS introduction.

            The 1960’s saw magnificent feats in the GIS field. One the Harvard campus, a man by the name of Fisher founded the Harvard Laboratory for Computer Graphics in the late 1960’s and created the SYMAP mapping package. This package used a line printer to produce a number of maps including isoline, choropleth, and proximal maps. SYMAP spread like wildfire globally; more than 500 businesses and institutions of higher learning had acquired the program. SYMAP became the first heavily distributed computer package for managing geographical data. Soon after, also in the proximity of Harvard, GRID was created by the Harvard School of Design and associates, allowing overlay of multiple layers of data. On a larger scale, large-frame computers became readily available and spatial analysis studies became popular. In 1964, IBM introduced a computer that was four hundred times faster than its predecessor, ideal for scientific applications and calculations. Three years later, the first demonstrations of address matching, paired computer mapping and data analysis of such through the New Haven Census Use Study surfaced. Last but not least, in 1969, the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) was established as a non-profit organization (eventually adapting into a profitable enterprise) and in conjunction, brought other software along with its implementation (ArcInfo being the most familiar).

            Earlier in the 70’s, ESRI developed a vector-based system known as the Planning Information Overlay System (PIOS) and DIME (Dual Independent Map Encoding) was developed and utilized to describe urban composition and to map out streets. In 1972, the Census Study sponsored the creation of the segment (a.k.a. Spatially Orientated Referencing Systems Association) SORSA. That same year, the Bureau created atlases for major metropolitan sectors, digitizing maps of around 35,000 census tracts. This required development of software to systematize the mass number of data, paving the way for the first GIS accounts, storage, and application. In 1973, Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System (GIRAS) came about to handle the ever-increasing large data sets. Launch of vector-based GIS: the ODYSSEY, in 1979 drew the interest of many – the perfect precursor to mass acceptance a few years later.

            Whereas the 1950’s/60’s classified and identified GIS and the 70’s diffused it nationally, the 1980’s were characterized by the innovation of GIS. The division of the USGS implementation of automated topographic maps was primed in the 80’s, as was the development of greater than 500 computer software handling spatial data. ArcInfo, from ESRI was put into practice in 1982, a main applications package, now compatible with most if not all computer types- including laptops and home computers. Many would argue this establishment signified the primary push of GIS into U.S. mainstream culture, beyond the closed doors of the laboratory.

            Other countries also followed suit. In Canada, for instance, Tomlinson (aka “The Father of GIS”) created initial GIS in 1966. After much persuasion, he convinced the Canadian government that the Canadian Geographic Information System (CGIS) was a valuable piece of technology that should be invested in. He then met the administrator of the Canada Land Inventory and drafted a report explaining his studies. By 1971, CGIS was in full operation and now contains more than 10,000 maps. Its implementation took longer than anticipated, but it still might very well be the largest GIS in operation even today and still the best software to contain such expansive continental data. Furthermore, in the early 1970’s, Tomlinson oversaw International Geographic Union’s Commission on Geographical Data Sensing and Processing. This commission had more than 15 information system activities and published a monograph of computer-geographic data handling.

            The United Kingdom displayed similarities to the GIS movement in both Canada and U.S. Like the U.S. , the surge of GIS started in the 1960’s, and, like in Canada, was at first not widely accepted by the British government. Some of their contributions include the early Publication of GIS: General Information Systems for Planning (GISP) in 1972 and a cartographic editor by the name of D.P. Brickmore that founded and persuaded the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) to fund the Experimental Cartography Unit (ECU). The ECU became completely functional in the late 1960’s in London. The unit produced high-quality printed maps and collaborated with national agencies concerning land use and environmental issues. In response, British federal agencies all over became intrigued with this growing marvel and started their own specialized GIS-based programs. Examples include the Scottish Development Department’s Rural Land Use Information System, Scotland’s “simple” GIS, the Tourism and Recreation Information Package (TRIP), and their Local Authority Management Information System (LAMIS). Other GIS developments around the globe briefly touched upon in the article were those in Japan, Australia, Sweden, and Jamaica- and the prospect of a multinational GIS.

            From this mapping of GIS birth and application, a better understanding of these and its continual modifications should be better understood. GIS followed a similar path across the globe, springing up in the 60’s and gaining popularity in the ‘80’s. To further simplify, the life-map of GIS could be described as its introduction in the 1950’s/60’s or its pioneer period, its diffusion or research arena in the ‘70’s, and its innovation and commercial phase in the ‘80’s, till today. The emergence of government funding as well as personal experimentation really took off in the ‘80’s as well, and is still true today as is the expanse in user dominance and marketing. Over its course, federal counterparts are evoking continual and now incessant interest in GIS software. GIS software will become more commonplace as the years pass; its rapid growth in the past few decades is just the beginning.