All About GIS (Geo-Information-System)
All About GIS (Geo-Information-System)
All About GIS (Geo-Information-System)
What is GIS?
A geographic information system (GIS) is a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing data.
Rooted in the science of geography, GIS integrates many types of data. It analyzes spatial location and
organizes layers of information into visualizations using maps and 3D scenes. With this unique capability,
GIS reveals deeper insights into data, such as patterns, relationships, and situations—helping users
make smarter decisions.
Oil exploration: Examples from a recent land geophysical field program in the Central Apennines of
southern Italy have shown several uses of GIS as applied to exploration. The examples illustrate the
application of inexpensive, field portable GIS tools to exploration survey planning, management, and QC.
(Pawlowski, 2000)
The Apennine Mountains, which run the length of and form the spine of the Italian peninsula, are
characterized by rugged terrain, folded, and faulted rocks of the so called Apennine platform carbonate
series. The difficult terrain obstructs mobility of personnel and equipment, resulting in high seismic
acquisition costs. In addition, the regional stratigraphy is highly calcareous, consisting of some thick and
monotonous platform carbonate, flysch, and molasses sequences. These factors create a considerable
challenge to acquisition of high quality data. Because of these challenges, a company was contracted to
help design and manage a comprehensive non seismic exploration field program in Forest’s onshore
Caserta Block (Figure 1). The non seismic program was designed to provide permit-wide exploration
reconnaissance at a cost comparable to that of a single 15-km seismic line. The goals of the non seismic
reconnaissance program were to identify prospective structural leads and optimize the locations of new
seismic lines to be acquired later.
Acquisition of new gravity data was planned to make use of the extensive network of roads in the area.
This decision was made for logistical ease and because future seismic acquisition will likely maximize use
of the same roads. The GIS tools used were valuable in (1) tracking and monitoring gravity data
acquisition and (2) verifying that the gravity station data were acquired in the correct locations.
Acquisition of Magnetotelluric (MT) data is negatively affected by cultural sources of electromagnetic
noise (e.g., electric railroads, pipeline cathodic protection, electric power switching equipment and
transmission lines, cities, etc.). Thus GIS can help optimize MT data acquisition because it can provide a
rapid first look at possible problem (electrically noisy) areas.
Figure 2 illustrates the utility of the data-layering capability inherent to GIS. In Figure 2, surface geologic
map information has been put as a base map and displayed with other data/information of interest. The
geologic information serves as a GIS map backdrop, ensuring that all MT sites sample outcropping
geologic units/features of interest. The four MT sites (dark blue triangles) of the initial noise-test
program can be seen in Figure 2.
Structural Geology: (Brew et al, 2000) generated new structural maps and tectonic models for the
whole Sirya. Information on this region is relatively limited, despite the local importance of hydrocarbon
production and abundant surface and subsurface data. The regional approach involved new
interpretations of seismic reflection profiles, well data, remote sensing imagery, and potential-field data,
merged with existing interpretations of similar data sets (see figure 3). These interpretations,
integrations, analyses, and map preparation were all performed within a GIS platform.
Figure 4 shows a preliminary and initial structural map example. The contours of depth to Lower
Cretaceous are based on well data, together with digitized, depth converted, converted, seismic-
reflection interpretations that have been entered into the GIS. Faults are interpreted from seismic
reflection profiles and other data and their digitized locations entered into the GIS. Both the depth
contours and the faults can be edited on screen. In this way, co-registered topography, satellite imagery,
and geology maps can facilitate mapping of features.
GIS is an essential component in tectonic mapping and
structural interpretation. Data manipulation, visualizations,
and integrated interpretations, previously prohibitively time-
consuming or impossible, are quick and easy using GIS
technology. This allows faster, more accurate analysis, and
better quality, highly accessible, end products. The maps and
models were created are important for continued
hydrocarbon exploration.
Geo-hazards:
Earthquakes: (seber et al, 2000) have shown that having the historical earthquake events data
managed in GIS platform can help in avoiding urban development in areas with high risk records and it
also helps in knowing high risk areas for better emergency planning and management (see figure 9). This
layer can be also overlaid on top of a geological map and/or fault map for regional tectonic
interpretations.
Volcanoes: GIS can be used in building database for active volcanoes (Seber et al, 2000). The attributes
associated with each volcano may include: location, last eruption date, type of eruption, height, lave
composition, eruption duration… Etc. (See figure 10)
GIS is also useful in predicting the lava flow direction, and managing the development and emergency
evacuations. The United States Geological Survey has applied GIS in analyzing the volcanic hazards
associated with Lassen Volcanic National Park area, California. The volcano scientists utilized the
available data to develop a volcano hazard zones (USGS fact sheet fs022-00, 2000). (See figure 11)
Flooding: Muzaffarabad city is one the most severally flood affected area in northern Pakistan. It is
situated at the confluence of River Neelum and Jhelum. High class residential area and commercial
activities are situated along riverbanks, which are severally
vulnerable to flooding. Due to rugged topography and lack of
further land for extension, the people are imposed to
construct either double-storey buildings or multi-storey
buildings. (Nawaz and Shafique, 2003)
For a number of reasons the most frequent choice should be
protection from the flooding by means of physical control of
the river, but there is also a need for a broader and
comprehensive program for managing flood hazard in the
study area. Flood protection has been helpful and must be
continued. Side by side other preventive tools like effective
planning for the growth of the city, creation of a
computerized GIS database for the flood prone areas and a
detail flood risk assessment mapping and zonation are
required to minimize the harmful effects of flood hazard. Therefore, an attempt has been made to apply
modern techniques like Geographical Information System and Remote Sensing for the assessment of
flood hazard. The presence of risk assessment mapping will help the concerned authorities to formulate
their development strategies according to the available risk to the area. (See figure 12)
GIS applications in managing the geo-hazards are not limited to these three hazards. It is heavily used in
other areas such as: drought, fire, cyclone, and landslide and soil erosion. (GIS Development website)
Conclusion:
The need for comprehensive geo-science information systems in research and education is
overwhelming. Examples shown in this paper provided detailed explanations about geographic
information system that will lead to better and more efficient research studies in many parts of the
world. The success of future geo-science research relies on how efficiently and effectively researchers
can access multidisciplinary data sets in their analysis. As our understanding of the Earth increases, it is
becoming clearer that cross disciplinary techniques must be utilized to achieve a higher level of
understanding.
List of references:
The Science of Where
https://www.esri.com/en-us/what-is-gis/overview