GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

SYSTEM (GIS)
Prof. Jun T. Castro, Dr Eng, C.E., En.P.
College Secretary – UP SURP
10 March 2016

SCURP 2016
A BASIC COURSE IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING (ABC in URP)
Training and Extension Services Division
3/F Cariño Hall, School of Urban and Regional Planning
University of the Philippines - Diliman, Quezon City
7-11 March 2016
Maps
• reduced and simplified model
of reality containing
geographical information

• … a graphic representation of
the cultural and physical
environments

• … preeminent means of
recording and communicating
information about the location
and spatial characteristics of
the natural world
Maps
• Man, even since pre-historic times, have used maps of
one form or another.
• These maps were engraved in wood, stone, baked clay
and animal skin.

Clay Tablet map from Redrawing with interpretation

Ga-Sur, 2,500 B.C.
The value of maps
1. As a way of
recording and
storing
information

2. As a means of
analyzing
locational
distributions and
spatial patterns

3. As a method of
presenting
information and
communicating
findings
Cartography
• Cartography is the means by which the surface of the
earth is represented as faithfully as possible.

• Cartography is the creation, production, and study of

maps.

• Cartography is the science and art of making maps

and charts.
Basic Map Contents

1. Primary content (main theme)

- it is the actual subject of the map, i.e., land use,
geology, geomorphology, population density

2. Secondary (base maps, basic map

information)
- for thematic maps this is the topographic base.
For all maps it includes the coastlines and boundaries of
municipalities and provinces. It also includes the grid and
the graticule.
Basic Map Contents
Basic Map Contents
3. Supportive (marginal information)
a. Map Title – defines information & purpose of the
map

b. Legend Column – contains the key to the codes

and the symbols used in the map

c. Scale – ratio of distance on a map to actual

distances they represent
Map Title
 Legend

• The legend
lists the
symbols used
on a map and
what they
depict
 Scale

• Map scale is the amount of reduction that takes place

in going from real world to map plane.
• Map scale is the ratio of map distance to ground
distance.
Basic Map Contents
d. Area Coverage – indicates the area, location, boundaries of
the planning area expressed through political or natural
boundaries
e. Date and Author – the date or period would show that the
information reflected on the map were true for the period
concerned
f. North Orientation – Maps are generally oriented towards
the north. However, the shape of the area covered may make
other orientation preferable. The north orientation provides the
user the proper perspective in interpreting the information on
the map.
g. Explanatory Text – For purposes of further clarification,
interpretation and evaluation of the contents of the maps, an
explanation may be made.
Basic Map Contents
Topographic Map Symbols
Types of Maps
1. General

• shows a complex of physical and cultural features

i) Base map
ii) Vicinity map
Base Map and Vicinity Map
 USES IN LAND
MAP TITLE SOURCE SCALE INFORMATION
USE PLANNING
1. Base Maps Topo map National Planning Political  working sheet in
(NAMRIA), – 1:1,500,00 boundaries, preparing various
cadastral Regional Planning permanent maps
map, – 1:250,000 physical features,  different types of
political Provincial Planning supportive information may
boundaries – 1:50,000 contents be overlayed to
(LMB) Metropolitan visually relate
Planning development
– 1: 25,000 trends,
City/Town constraints
Planning
– 1:5,000/1:10,000

1.1. General 1:5,000 / 1:10,000 Boundaries of the

Base Map whole area

1.2. Urban 1:2,000 / 1,4000 Detailed info on

Base Map urban areas,
roads, facilities

1.3. Vicinity 1:250,000 or other Geographic  pinpoints specific

Map location of area in location of a
relation to the study area
next bigger area  tool for analysis
on the influence
and limitation of
planning area
 visualizes effect
of development
and plans of the
study area on the
outlying areas
Types of Maps
2. Thematic

• a simple outline map depicting one single feature of the

earth’s surface or representing a single theme or
subject.

• may show population distribution, political units, soil,

water, forests and others depending upon the
requirement of such map
Thematic Maps
Examples:
• Topographic map
• Slope map
• Land Use map
• Soil map
• Climate map
• Geological map
• Cadastral map
• Land classification map
• Existing land use and vegetative cover map
• Protected areas for agriculture map
• Road network map
Topographic Map
Slope Map
Land Use Map
 MAP TITLE SCALE AGENCY INFORMATION USES
Topographic 1:50,000; NAMRIA Point elevations, major - presents info. on
physical features which
Map 1:250,000 road network, built up are important for
areas, water bodies, determining potential &
other surface features limitation for land dev.
- essential in
determining run-off
patterns, erosion,
sedimentation, site
stability
Soil Map 1:50,000 BSWM Soil qualities, stability, -essential in
determining land use
resource potential suitability
- determining
appropriate agri. crops
- important factor in
determining strength &
capability to hold and
maintain structure
- soil capability to hold
water, erosion
Climate Map 1:500,000 PAGASA Climate type, prevailing - determines type of
crops to be planted and
wind, rainfall planting schedule
- determines
concentration of stream
run-off and potential of
run-off to carry
pollutants
- prevailing wind is
essential in allocation
of areas for specific
purposes
 MAP TITLE SCALE AGENCY INFORMATION USES
Geological Map 1:250,000 MGSB, Subsoil structure, fault - shows earthquake
prone areas
DENR lines, rock types - presents site’s ability
to support structures
Cadastral Map LMB Public record of land - reliable source of data
on ownership,
ownership boundaries and areas
- basis for land taxation
and assessment of land
values
Land varying scales NAMRIA Alienable and - identification of
control measures
Classification disposable lands, regarding use dev.
Map timberlands, - Identify physical
unclassified public constraints of
expansion areas
forests.
- Identify limits of A&D
that could be owned by
private citizens
Color Codes for Land Use Maps

Source: HLURB (1996), Mapping, Vol. VII

Types of Thematic Maps
1. Choropleth
• The most commonly used method of thematic mapping
• particularly suited for charting phenomena that are evenly distributed
within each enumeration unit

2. Proportional symbol
• Also known as graduated symbols, these maps represent data associated
with point locations (i.e., cities or counties).
• The data is displayed with proportionally sized symbols to graphically
represent a realistic difference in occurrence.

3. Isarithmic
• These maps, also known as contour maps, depict smooth continuous
phenomena such as precipitation.
• They are also well-suited to displaying three-dimensional values such as
elevation i.e; on topographic maps.

4. Dot
• A map using dots to show the presence of a feature or occurrence and
display a spatial pattern.
Chloropleth Map

• On a choropleth
map, political
divisions or
administrative
areas are
shaded
according to
their respective
ratios or
proportions.
Proportional Symbol Map
• uses a symbol of
differing size to represent
quantities.

• This allows to represent

data related to a specific
point or area

• A symbol is chosen to
represent the information
and then scaled to match
the data at each location
on the map.
Isarithmic Map
• Isarithms are one way
of representing
continuous numerical
values on a sheet of
paper.

• When these isarithms

represent elevations,
they are called
contours.
Other Isarithmic Maps
• Isotherms show
temperature

• Isobars show pressure • Isohyets show precipitation

Dot Map
• uses dots to show
the presence of a an
object or occurrence
of an event
• map of Dr. John
Snow in tracing
source of cholera
outbreak in Soho,
London in 1854
• used to display
spatial pattern (e.g.,
1 dot = 1 death)
Types of Maps

3. Analytical

• illustrates the derived results on an analysis and

synthesis of two or more variable factors according to
desired output (e.g. analysis of soil type, slope, rainfall
intensity => flood hazard areas)

• can be derived from overlay analysis or sieve analysis

of various thematic maps
Flood Hazard Map
 MAP TITLE SOURCES INFORMATION USES
Serves as an analytical tool
in determining land capability
and soil suitability for specific
Shows degree of
Erosion Slope map, soil crops, identifying suitable
susceptibility to erosion
Potential map - BSWM areas, for urban dev’t.; &
of an area
determining protective
Rainfall intensity, measures for land dev’t. &
vegetation types, mgt.
May be used in identifying
environmentally critical areas
that would require attention;
Flooding Slope map, soil Shows areas where
also used in determining the
Hazard map - BSWM flooding usually occur
type and capacity of
drainage & other
Rainfall intensity, tidal environmental projects
fluctuations, Used in determining specific
Indicates the suitability of
areas suitable for uses such
Land Capability Soil erosion, areas for cultivation as cultivation, forest, pasture
according to soil
Classification potential flood, conservation mgt. land; helps in identifying
dev’t. constraints & proper
soil conditions requirements land mgt. schemes
MAP TITLE SOURCES INFORMATION USES
Provides the planner an idea
where the urban district
could be most suitably
Soil map,
situated as well as a guide
erosion
Provides data on the on how/ where the diff. land
potential map,
Soil Suitability degree of soil suitability uses w/I the urban zone
slope map,
for urban development could be located; helps
flooding hazard
determine direction of urban
map - BSWM
growth & guides the
formulation of mgt. controls
& measures
Existing land
Illustrates the obstacles
use map, land
to development in the Use in identifying areas for
Development capability/ soil
physical sense like development with the least
Constraints suitability
subsidence or flooding limitations
maps, special
risks
projects map
Using Computers in Mapping
• Advantages • Disadvantages

1. Lower cost for simple 1. Relatively few full-scale

maps, faster production systems have been
shown to be truly cost-
2. Greater flexibility in effective in practice,
output - easy scale or despite early promise
projection change -
maps can be tailored to 2. High capital cost, though
user needs this is now much reduced

3. Other uses for digital

data
GIS Overview
• We can describe any element of our world in two ways:
location information and attribute information

Attribute Information:
Location Information: What is it?
Where is it?

Species: Acacia
Height: 15 m
Age: 75 Yrs
51°N, 112°E
GIS Overview
• GIS software links the location data and the attribute data:
Geographic Information System (GIS)
 a computer-based technology
designed to:
1. capture geographic data from
various sources, and
2. process these data to produce
information and graphical outputs

in support of planning, management

and decision-making concerning
the utilization of land resources

 a computer-based tool for mapping

and analyzing things that exist and
events that happen on earth.
Uses of GIS

• Used in Organizing Data

– Geographic Data (Maps)
– Descriptive Data (Databases)
– Images

• Used in Distributing Data

• Used in Analyzing Data

• Used in Visualizing Data

Thematic Layers
Addresses

Boundaries

Land use/land
cover

Parcels

Planimetry - Buildings,
streets, water bodies

Orthophoto with
contour

Geodetic Control
An Analogy of GIS?

Addresses

Boundaries

Land use/land
cover

Parcels

Planimetry - Buildings,
streets, water bodies

Orthophoto with
contour

Geodetic control
Simplified View of GIS

Maps
GIS

Database

Tables/DBs

Spatial
Modeling
Tools
Maps Linked to Data
GIS Components

 Hardware

 Software

 Data

 Methods

 People
GIS Components
 Hardware – the device that the user interacts with directly in
carrying out GIS operations.
GIS Components
 Software – The engine for carrying out GIS operations. It is a
collection of programs that encapsulate geographic
processing functions.
GIS Components
• Software

• Commercial GIS
– ESRI (ArcView, ArcGIS, etc.) (http://www.esri.com)
– Mapinfo (http://www.mapinfo.com/)
– Manifold (http://www.manifold.net)

• Open Source GIS Software

– GRASS GIS (http://grass.itc.it/)
– Quantum GIS (http://www.qgis.org)
– ILWIS (Integrated Land and Water Information System)
(http://52north.org/downloads/ilwis)
– MapWindow GIS (http://www.mapwindow.org)
GIS Components
 People – Skilled workers who design, program, and maintain it,
supply it with data, and interpret its results.

 Methods – GIS requires management. An organization must

establish procedures, lines of reporting, control points, and other
mechanisms for ensuring that its GIS activities stay within budgets,
maintain high quality, and generally meet the needs of the
organization.

 Data – Digital representation of selected aspects of some specific

area of the Earth’s surface or near surface, built to serve some
problem solving or scientific purpose.
Sources:
a. Thematic maps
b. Aerial Photography
c. Satellite Imagery
d. GPS readings
e. Ground surveys
GIS Functions
Data Input
 Keyboard Entry
 Digitizing
 Scanning
 Other methods
(i.e., remote sensing,
field survey, GPS,
databases in digital
format)
GIS Data Input
1. Keyboard entry
2. Manual digitizing
3. Operator-assisted digitizing
4. Scanning
5. Photogrammetric methods
6. Satellite remote sensing systems
7. Field survey
8. Satellite positioning systems
9. Other computer systems
 1. Keyboard entry

• Keyboard entry is primarily used for entering tabular data

• Typical attribute data sets entered can be:
– vegetation classes
– soil types
– etc.
 2. Manual digitizing

• Conventional digitizing is the manual

process of converting geographic map
data into digital form.
• The digitizing process is as follows:
1. Map is placed on a flat digitizing tablet and
affixed using tape.
2. Operator identifies control points which have
known geographic locations. Usually four or
more points are identified.
3. Operator digitizes the control points by moving
the cursor to each location and then activating
the digitizer by pressing a button. Cursor
4. Software then performs calibration to enable any
features digitized to be transformed into true
geographic coordinates.
5. Map features are then digitized by tracing their
boundaries and activating the digitizer as
required.

Digitizing table
3. Operator-assisted digitizing

• Also known as heads-up digitizing because the operator

works with his head up looking at the screen rather than with
his head down following the cursor on a digitizing tablet.
4. Scanning
• Scanning is an automated
process of converting from paper-
based products to digital formats.

• In the scanning process:

– a map is passed through a
scanning system which has a
number of scanning detection
units;
– the detection units “detect” the
reflected light emitted from
features on the map;
– the reflected light is converted
to a reflectance value
– the image can then be
converted to vector format and
edited

Large-format roll-feed image scanner

5. Photogrammetry & remote sensing

• Both are concerned with

collecting geographic data
using remote means.

• Planimetric and topographic

information are usually derived
from aerial photographs.

• Land cover and other

information are usually derived
from satellite imagery.

• Scanned aerial photographs

and remotely sensed data are
in digital raster format already.
6. Field surveys

• Traditionally, field measurements are made by

surveyors or field staff who use specialized equipment
and procedures for gathering geographic data.

• Field measurements usually include:

– measurements of distance and direction
– measurements in both horizontal and vertical
planes

• Measurements can be made with:

– compasses, transits and theodolites (for direction)
– tapes, chains and distance meters (for distance)
– levels (for elevation)
– GPS (all of the above)
Field surveying
7. Satellite-based positioning systems

• GPS (United States), GLONASS

(Russia) and GNSS (Europe) are
three civilian satellite positioning
systems that are operational at
present.

• Primarily developed for military

applications, the American and
Russian systems are subject to
degradation for civilian use.

• Receivers cost anywhere

between US$ 1,000 to
US$ 100,000 and give accuracy
from 100 m to 1 cm (using
sophisticated GPS data
processing techniques).
8. Others

• Other map data are available from a variety of

databases, some of which are in digital format.

• Some local data that are available, include:

– Municipal boundaries, 1:250,000
– 100-m contours, 1:250,000
– Barangay boundaries (from NSO)
GIS Functions
Data Management
 when data volume becomes large
 database management system (software) to store,
organize, and manage data
 data are stored conceptually as a collection of
tables

Map Area PIN

ID (ha)
11 435 A-227
12 210 A-420
13 628 A-760
14 252 A-127
Spatial Analysis

• Measurement

Area = 387.73 sq.m.

Magnify
Spatial Analysis

• Attribute/Tabular Analysis
Spatial Analysis

• Buffering: A buffer is a zone of a specified distance

around a certain feature or features.
• Buffers tend to be used in instances where one is trying
to determine, lessen or absorb an impact.
Spatial Analysis

• Overlay analysis: Combination of two or more

thematic maps

SLOPE MAP

+
SOIL MAP

+
RAINFALL
INTENSITY MAP

FLOOD HAZARD MAP

Spatial Analysis

• Overlay analysis

Land
Tax Use
LotPayment
Parcel
Road
Status
 Spatial Analysis

• Classification/Generalization

Population Profiling Land Use and Growth Areas

Data Output
 Maps / Reports / Charts or Graphs
 Outputs are generated via printers, plotters, and
monitors
Data Output: Cartographic
• Cartographic

1. Map

2. Surface
Data Output: 3D Presentation
Data Output: 3D Presentation
Data Output: Non-cartographic
• Non-cartographic
1. Table
2. Chart
3. Report
GIS Benefits
 Make map-making flexible

MAPS

CHARTS

DATABASES

PICTURES

IMAGES
CAD
GIS Benefits
 Better data management

aerial photo satellite data

map ground survey data

GIS Benefits
 Organizational integration
 Facilitate better decisions
GIS Benefits
 Increased efficiency/productivity

2 3
1 Plotting and Verification in Tax Map
Field Appraisal and Evaluation
Submission of required documents

QC
Div A Div B Div C Approval

7
Certificate Reception Fee collection Examiner
of Title Task A Task A Task A
A C E Task B Task B Task B
To To To
Encoding and Issuance of B D F

Tax Declaration •Workflow Technology

•Parcel-based Audit Property Identification
Number (PIN) Assignment 4

6
Billing and Payment
5
Assessor’s Office
of tax dues Signature of Tax Declaration
Factors Aiding Rise of GIS

 Revolution in Information Technology and

Communication technology

 Rapidly declining cost of computer hardware

 Enhanced functionality of software and their user-

friendliness

 Visualizing impact of GIS

GIS Application: Business
• Market area analysis
– How many people live within a 5km drive of my store?
– What other types of stores surround mine?
– What is my target market and where do they live?

• Provides operational, tactical, and strategic decisions

– Delivery (pizza delivery, parcel delivery, etc.)
– Best location of business
GIS Application: Logistics/Transport
• Logistics deal with the
movement of goods and
people from one place to
another

• Find Best Route - Find the

most efficient travel routes

• Find Closest Facility -

Determine which facility or
vehicle is closest

• Find Service Area - Find a

service area around a site,
to learn what is around the
site
GIS Application: Local Government

 Property Assessment and Taxation

 Business Permits and Licensing

 Building Permits and Facilities Management

 Public Safety, Traffic Management

 Health and Sanitation

 Disaster Preparedness and Response

Marikina Dengue Mapping: Surveillance of
Vector-Based Disease
Thank you for your
attention!
Contact details:
Jun T. Castro, Dr. Eng.
Associate Professor
College Secretary
UP School of Urban and Regional Planning
nujortsac@gmail.com