The third edition of this bestselling textbook has been fully revised and updated to include the latest developments in the field and still retains its accessible format to appeal to a broad range of students. Now divided into five clear sections, Geographic Information Systems and Science investigates the unique, complex and difficult problems that are posed by geographic information and together they build into a holistic understanding of the key principles of GIS. This is the most current, authoritative and comprehensive treatment of the field, that goes from fundamental principles to the big picture of: GIS and the New World Order; security, health and well-being; digital differentiation in GIS consumption; the core organizing role of GIS in Geography; the greening of GIS; grand challenges of GIScience; and, science and explanation.
Geographic Information Systems and Science features: four-colour throughout; associated website with free online resources; teacher's manual that is available for lecturers; and, a complete learning resource, with accompanying instructor links, free online lab resources and personal syllabi. It includes learning objectives and review boxes throughout each chapter. This edition is completely revised with a new five part structure: Foundations; Principles; Techniques; Analysis; Management and Policy. It contains all new personality boxes of current GIS practitioners. It includes new chapters on Distributed GIS, Map Production, Geovisualization, Modeling, and Managing GIS.
Foreword
Addendum
Preface
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
PART I: INTRODUCTION
1. Systems, Science, and Study
2. A Gallery of Applications
PART II: PRINCIPLES
3. Representing Geography
4. The Nature of Geographic Data
5. Georeferencing
6. Uncertainty
PART III: TECHNIQUES
7. GIS Software
8. Geographic Data Modeling
9. GIS Data Collection
10. Creating and Maintaining Geographic Databases
11. Distributed GIS
PART IV: ANALYSIS
12. Cartography and Map Production
13. Geovisualization
14. Query, Measurement, and Transformation
15. Descriptive Summary, Design, and Inference
16. Spatial Modeling with GIS
PART V: MANAGEMENT AND POLICY
17. Managing GIS
18. GIS AND Management, the Knowledge Economy, and Information
19. Exploiting GIS Assets and Navigating Constraints
20. GIS
21. Epilog
Index
"One of the nicest features is the book's accessibility this is a must have reference guide for all newcomers to the field, be they students or professionals."
- GIS Professional, July / August 2005