System,Science,and Studies

Chapter 1 basically explains what GIS is and how we as human beings use its technology in our everyday life. It also describes the origin of the GIS technology which was created in the mid 1960's in Canada. It was named the Canadian Geographic Information system or CGIS.  It also explains in great detail the different branches of technology that utilize the systems resources the most. Some say that this is the new way of solving real world problems with technology. Chapter one also briefly informs the readers the anatomy of the GIS database, meaning that it informs us how important the internet is to the operators of GIS. A company called ArcGIS is the number one user of the GIS database. Did you know that the GIS database was priced at over 5.9 billion dollars!! The five main components of GIS are also listed in this chapter. They are:The Internet, The users hardware, The software that runs on the users computer, The anatomy of the database, and finally the people who design, maintain, and run the system. Chapter one not only explains the technology side of GIS, but it also tell us about the business side of the system. Meaning how does this company turn a profit and there annual ratings.

Pictured above is Roger Tomlinson. The inventor of the first Canadian Geographic Information System 

I learned that the internet allows users access to specific functions that are provided by remote sites. The GIS world is highly influenced by the publishing industry which includes magazines, books, and journals. The first courses in GIS were offered in universities in the early 1970's, often as an overgrowth of courses in cartography and remote sensing. Did you know that in 1992 the term geographic information science was coined by Michael Goodchild in a paper he published. The one question that frequently is asked about the GIsystem is the system reliable enough for it to be used in geography. Many geographers are very skeptical about the GIsystem and still question its consistency