Geographic Information Systems Demystified -- Contents vii -- Preface xv -- Acknowledgments xvii -- Introduction xix -- Part I: What Is a Geographic Information System? 1 -- 1 How Does a GIS Work? 3 -- The Fundamental Flow of Information 3 -- Geography and Geographic Data 5 -- Georeferencing 8 -- Queries: Locations and Attributes 8 -- Geoprocessing 9 -- Spatial Analysis 11 -- Geographic Information 12 -- 2 Why Use a GIS? 15 -- Discerning Your Need for GIS 16 -- Common GIS Products and Bi-Products 17 -- Database Management Systems 19 -- Quality Assurance, Six Sigma, and GIS 25 -- Project Visibility and Popularity 26 -- Benefits, Cost Savings, and Automation 27 -- 3 The Structure of Geographic Data 29 -- Raster and Vector Data Structures -- Vector Feature Geometry 31 -- Raster Image Structures 34 -- Topology 35 -- GIS Attribute Tables and Indices 38 -- 4 Geospatial Metadata 41 -- What Is Metadata? 42 -- Geospatial Metadata and GIS 43 -- Metadata Schemata, Element Sets, and Syntax 45 -- Geospatial Metadata Standards 48 -- Executive Orders 12906 and 13286 55 -- The National Spatial Data Infrastructure 56 -- Geospatial Metadata Clearinghouses and Publishing Resources 57 -- Part II: Geodesy, Earth Models, and Coordinate Systems -- 5 The Basics of Geodesy and Scale 61 -- What Is Geodesy? 61 -- Understanding Map Scale 65 -- Simple Map Scale Calculations 67 -- Scale and Accuracy 67 -- Geographic Data Generalization 69 -- 6 The Ellipsoid 73 -- History of the Earth Model 74 -- Shape of the Earth 75 -- Mathematical Model of the Earth 77 -- Typical Earth Shape Calculation 80 -- Reference Ellipsoids 82 -- 7 The Horizontal Datum 85 -- What Is a Geodetic Datum? 86 -- Primary Types of Geodetic Datums 87 -- Standard Horizontal Datums 89 -- Horizontal Datum Transformation Models 94 -- Horizontal Grid Transformation Methods 99 -- Reference 101.

8 The Vertical Datum 103 -- Mean Sea Level and the Geoid 104 -- The Geoid-Ellipsoid Separation 106 -- Standard Vertical Datums 107 -- Vertical Datum Transformation Methods 110 -- 9 The Map Projection 113 -- The Physicality of the Earth 113 -- Scale Reduction: From the Ellipsoid to the Globe 116 -- Transformation from the Globe 116 -- What Is a Map Projection? 117 -- Choosing a Map Projection 120 -- Types of Map Projections 122 -- The Aspect of Projection 125 -- Classification of Map Projections 126 -- Distortion 132 -- The Tissot Indicatrix 133 -- 10 The Coordinate System 139 -- What Is a Coordinate System? 139 -- Coordinate System Implementation in GIS 150 -- Part III: GIS Applications and Environments -- 11 Thematic Mapping 155 -- The Need for Thematic Mapping 156 -- Manipulating Thematic Layers 157 -- Types of Thematic Maps 159 -- Mapping Data, Classification, Portrayal, and Distinction 165 -- Common Cartographic Elements 168 -- 12 GIScience, Engineering, and Related Applications 173 -- Using GIS for Technical Applications 173 -- GIScience: Principles and Applications 174 -- Engineering Applications 175 -- Marketing and Financial Applications 177 -- 13 GIS and the Environment 181 -- Using GIS for Environment Applications 181 -- Managing Natural Resources 182 -- Environmental Investigation and Remediation Applications 185 -- Shoreline Management Systems 187 -- Other Environmental Applications 188 -- 14 GIS and the Public 191 -- A Public Need for Information 191 -- Managing Public Health and Safety 192 -- Disaster: Planning, Response, and Recovery 194 -- Transportation and Information 195 -- Homeland Security's Third Eye 196 -- Public Education Applications 197 -- Redefining Public Policy 199 -- 15 Getting Started with GIS-An Overview of Environments, Tools, and Data 201 -- Getting Yourself Up and Running with GIS 201.

Leading For-Purchase GIS Environments 202 -- GRASS and Other Free GIS Environments 205 -- GIS Component Software 208 -- Geospatial Data Clearinghouses 210 -- Afterword 213 -- Appendix A: Reference Ellipsoid Parameters 219 -- Appendix B: Worldwide Geodetic Datums 223 -- Glossary 233 -- Bibliography 249 -- Index 261.