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The History and Application of GIS in Educationby Tom Baker, KanCRN Systems SpecialistGeographic Information Systems A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a tool for spatial (having a location component) data analysis. This tool allows for the collection, storage, analysis or manipulation, and display of such data (Slocum, 8). The typical display of a GIS is a map-based image where layers represent distinct components or types of information. These layers can be added in any sequence the user prefers, and based upon the data available to the user, analyses or visualizations can be preformed on that data. In traditional cartography, or map making, the presentation of static maps is possible. However, it is the ability of a user to interact with maps or the "private activity in which unknowns are revealed in a highly interactive environment" that lead to the term, visualization (MacEachen in Slocum, 11). It is these visualizations that possess the greatest benefit to science teachers and students in their pursuit of data analysis, particularly data related to environmental research. Many of the roots of GIS can be seen from the pursuits of the Harvard Laboratory for Computing Graphics. The Harvard Lab was a Ford foundation project, established in 1966 by Howard Fisher, who was an industrial architect and had set out to create an automated mapping program. Essentially, Fisher wanted to create maps using typewriter symbols that could print overstrikes creating a variety of shading effects. Unfortunately, few cartographers appreciated the aesthetics of the output of the Harvard Lab application, called SYMAP. It was never readily adopted, however it was this early attempt at automated mapping that began to chart the path of computing technologies in cartography and mapping. As a new application, GRID was developed from the Harvard Lab efforts; from GRID sprang a number of our modern GIS computer applications, such as ESRI's ArcInfo and ERDAS's Imagine. Each of these companies now stands as a leader in the field of Geographic Information Systems (Slocum, 16; Clarke, 7-10). With the advent of the Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) and increased speed and memory (all with decreased cost), widespread support and adoption of GIS for problem solving and spatial analysis occurred. fact, the user interface of GIS software has improved greatly, allowing for even the most timid users to try their hand at spatial analysis. Today, we commonly see Geographic Information Systems used in a variety of fields and activities. In a single issue of ArcNews, we can readily find examples of GIS in: redistributing state owned lands, law enforcement, utility companies, environmental resource mapping, emergency response routing, public transportation, pipeline industries, and many other fields (Fall 1997). Contents:
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