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UNIT 1 GEOINFORMATICS: an Introduction INTRODUCTION Geoinformatics: An UNIT 1 GEOINFORMATICS: AN Introduction INTRODUCTION Structure 1.1 Introduction Objectives 1.2 What is Geoinformatics? 1.3 Components of Geoinformatics Computer Science Geodesy Cartography Photogrammetry Remote Sensing Global Positioning System Geographical Information System 1.4 Advantages 1.5 Evolution of Geoinformatics as a Multidisciplinary Discipline 1.6 Applications 1.7 Geoinformatics Products 1.8 Activity 1.9 Summary 1.10 Unit End Questions 1.11 References 1.12 Further/Suggested Reading 1.13 Answers 1.1 INTRODUCTION You know that the increasing human population is exerting an unprecedented pressure on the existing natural resources. Therefore, in order to meet the ever increasing demand on the infrastructure development, urban planning, healthy neighbourhood, safe transportation of human populace and material, management of natural resources, disaster preparedness of the community, conservation of biodiversity and elevating the status of endangered animals to safe level, etc. require a comprehensive approach with careful understanding of geography of the Earth. Here comes the power of ‘Geoinformatics’, which uses the modern scientific and technological advancements for better utilisation of space to have for sustainable human growth. Geoinformatics can be defined as the science and technology that deals with the geoinformation, its acquisition, creation, storage, processing, presentation and dissemination. And, by spatial information and data we mean any information and data that can be linked to a location on Earth. As you are being introduced to the new discipline of geoinformatics, we would like to present you some real time examples on how the geoinformatics technology could be better utilised to manage the day-to-day affairs and 7 Overview of Geoinformatics increase your efficiency. For example all major Telecom companies in India use geoinformatics technologies to lay their cables and locate mobile towers. Power sectors across Indian states have identified geoinformatics technologies as the decision support tool for locating the electrical assets in towns to reduce transmission loss and reduce electrical theft through consumer mapping. With this brief introductory note on geoinformatics and its diverse applications, we further proceed to appraise you of varied components and products of geoinformatics. Objectives After studying this unit you should be able to: • define geoinformatics; • identify various components of geoinformatics; • develop a concept of its advantages and diverse applications; • recognise the evolution of geoinformatics; • discuss the multidisciplinary nature of geoinformatics; and • list types of geoinformatics products. 1.2 WHAT IS GEOINFORMATICS? Geoinformatics today has become an important technology to the decision- makers across a wide range of disciplines, industries and organisations as it enables them to acquire, process, analyse, visualise spatial information and Earth science deals with produce outputs. Now, before we delve deeper into the Geoinformatics the study of different aspects of the Earth. technology, let us first understand the meaning of the term Geoinformatics. Informatics is understood The term geoinformatics consists of two words, geo (Earth) and informatics as the study of (the study of information processing). Hence, geoinformatics can be information processing. understood as the union of Earth sciences and Informatics. We can say that Geoinformatics broadly deals with the use of information technology for Geographic refers to the collection, analysis, storage, retrieval, representation and dissemination Earth’s surface and near surface whereas spatial is of information about the Earth. a broad term which refers The term ‘geoinformatics’ is believed to have come in existence just few to any space and not just the space of the Earth’s decades back as a result of the integration of three disciplines, namely surface. photogrammetry, remote sensing and geographic information systems. Though the term There is another term i.e. ‘geomatics’, which was first used in Canada at Laval geospatial is a subset of University in the early 1980s to describe the above mentioned disciplines spatial, it is commonly realising the concept that increasing potential of computing which was used to refer to any revolutionising surveys and representation sciences. According to the spatial data. Department of Geomatics Engineering, University of Calgary, “Geomatics Engineering is a modern discipline, which integrates acquisition, modelling, analysis, and management of spatially referenced data, i.e. data identified according to their locations”. Geomatics Industry Association of Canada (GIAC) defines geomatics “as a technology and service sector focusing on the acquisition, storage, analysis, dissemination and management of geographically referenced information for improved decision-making”. 8 The word Geomatics is derived from the French word Ge´omatique, which Geoinformatics: An was coined by Dubuisson, a French Photogrammetrist. The term Geomatics is Introduction more commonly used in North America whereas Geoinformatics seems to be more popular in Europe such as in Netherlands where there is a Geoinformatics Department at the famous ITC (International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences). Michalak (2000), considers the term ‘geomatics’ to be interchangeable with ‘geoinformatics’. However, some people are of the opinion that though both geomatics and geoinformatics include and rely heavily upon the theory and practical implications of geodesy. There is a difference in the meanings that the terms geomatics and geoinformatics convey. Let us come back to the definition of geoinformatics. Wikipedia defines geoinformatics as “…the science and the technology which develops and uses information science infrastructure to address the problems of geography, geosciences and related branches of engineering”. According to Jachimski (2001), ‘geoinformatics’ is “...the science of the gathering, processing and dissemination of information which is spatially defined within the Earth’s system”. Geoinformatics has been described as “the science and the technology dealing with the structure and character of spatial information, its capture, its classification, its storage, processing, portrayal and dissemination, including the infrastructure necessary to secure optimal use of this information” or “the art, science and technology dealing with the acquisition, storage, processing, production, presentation and dissemination of geoinformation” (Oledzki, 2004). Conceptualisation of Geoinformatics is represented in Fig. 1.1. Fig. 1.1: Conceptualisation of Geoinformatics (modified from Oledzki, 2004) Oledzki (2004) believes that the term Geoinformatics is more easily understood, and is much better at conveying the essence of spatial research focusing on informatics. Hence, in the course material the term Geoinformatics (GI) would be used. With this background, you will now be able to define geoinformatics. 9 Overview of Geoinformatics 1.3 COMPONENTS OF GEOINFORMATICS From our discussion on the definition aspect of geoinformatics, we understand that geoinformatics is an integrated spatial research tool. It encompasses a broad range of disciplines including surveying and mapping, Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), Geodesy and computer science. Various components of geoinformatics are the followings: • Computer Science • Geodesy • Cartography • Photogrammetry • Remote Sensing (RS) • Global Positioning System (GPS) • Geographic Information System (GIS) You would be introduced to the major disciplines later in the relevant courses. However, let us get a brief idea about the various disciplines that constitutes geoinformatics. 1.3.1 Computer Science Informatics, as a discipline, comprises of both the computer technologies, i.e. hardware and software. The important role of information derives from our Computer science is composed of many broad necessity to manage more and more numerous and complex data in every disciplines, including field. The knowledge of computer science is a pre-requisite to represent and artificial intelligence and process applicable information through the development of hardware and software engineering. software. Computer science culture is now more prevalent contributing in improvement of our activities and research. The application and usage of computer science to geoinformatics go hand-in-hand. You will come across various aspects of the application of computer science to geoinformatics while studying about geoinformatics data acquisition, processing, product generation, data visualisation, dissemination, etc. 1.3.2 Geodesy Geodesy also known as geodetics is the discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth. Geodesy is defined as the science concerned with the study of shape and area of the Earth. Geodesy defines the shape and dimensions of the Earth through its two branches: gravimetry and positioning astronomy. Gravimetry deals with the determination of Earth’s gravity and its anomalies and the gravity determines the shape of the Earth. Positioning astronomy determines the position of the points on the globe through the observation of stars and artificial satellites. The study of geodesy began with mere curiosity and the never-ending human inquisitiveness to explain the Earth’s unknown through logic. It has been a great challenge for researchers to accurately represent the 3-dimensional
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