Talk:Geographic information system

message: Till the second week of April 2013, there used to be a separate Wikipedia page for "Geographic Information Science (GIScience)". I had used the link for another Wikipedia entry. Somehow, any internal Wikipedia link to that entry now reverts to the page on Geographic Information System (GIS). I cannot find out who made that decision, but it is clearly uninformed and absolutely in error. GIScience and GIS are not the same thing. The page on GIScience needs to be reinstated. Lomdii (talk) 12:13, 28 April 2013 (UTC)
replies: text: I cleaned up the "Geostatistics section so it's not a list.  If someone could review for accuracy, that would be great.  --RWilliamKing 15:46, 6 April 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Article focus discussion

message: The article consistently confuses GIS software with the geographic information system, that is, the data model and the decision processes it supports. Software plays a role, but it should be de-emphasied in favor of process.  I may not get a chance to fix this and it wouldn't hurt my feelings if someone else tried.Casu Marzu
:Software is integral to the GIS system though and is the main conduit through which data is organized and displayed. I don't think you can separate the two. --Omnicog 15:03, 30 August 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: GIS software discussion

message: Why is this article marked as a stub?Mikeblas 16:31, 22 January 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  stub? 

message: Could someone look at article GIS in archaeology to see if material can be merged into this article. FloNight talk  20:17, 15 February 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: [[Use of GIS in archaeology]]

message: Would anyone oppose pulling out the University Degree Programs out into a new article?  The Geographic information system article is already too long and the University Degree Programs is a really just a list that has the potential to grow immensely.  --Ray 10:57, 22 March 2006 (UTC)
thread_title: University Degree Programs

message: Can raw GIS data be copyrighted? If so, how about maps (including vector graphics) created from said data? (I'm talking here about copyright held by the sources, not by the mapmaker that uses the data to create a map.) --SPUI (T - C - RFC) 01:05, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Raw? from what source?  If the raw data is from the U.S. Federal Government (e.g. USGS, US Census Bureau,...), then it's in the public domain.  State and local governments, as well as foreign governments, for the most part hold copyright to their data, as do of course private companies such as ESRI, Tele Atlas, and NAVTEQ.  For maps created from copyrighted sources, if it's a derived work, combining sources in a new way, and other creative derivations, then I think it might be okay (but please cite the sources).  In such cases, I prefer to upload the map in raster format.  There was some debate about a map used on Jordanhill railway station, where it seemed to be "copied" or "traced" from Google Maps, but enough added creative input to it that think the map survived the debate. -Aude (talk | contribs) 01:34, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Is such data creative though? Creativity is necessary for copyrightability - see Feist v. Rural. Have there been any cases related to GIS data? Any common views? --SPUI (T - C - RFC) 02:14, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: I think GIS data is copyrighted.  Vector data is usually compiled from aerial photographs.  Many creative decisions are involved deciding what level of detail to include in the vector data, how to setup the associated data attributes, classify things, etc. And with maps, some companies have been known to include artificial road segments or other artifacts that serve as watermarks for the map/data.  But if you take the data, manipulate it, combine it with different sources, and express it in a new creative way, then I think it's okay (fitting with "If Feist were to take the directory and rearrange them it would destroy the copyright owned in the data.", from the case you cite). You just can't copy the particular creative expression, but simply the facts.  What are the specifics in your situation? While I don't provide any legal opinions, maybe I can advise better. -Aude (talk | contribs) 02:29, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: See COUNTY OF SUFFOLK vs. Experian, and list of other court cases. -Aude (talk | contribs) 02:45, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

text: I don't have a specific situation - I think something about this should be added to the article. --SPUI (T - C - RFC) 03:04, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: In general, the article needs an overall good copyedit, but this would be a good topic to cover.  When it comes to maps for Wikipedia, I mainly stick to maps of the U.S. and federal government data, though the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has some (not necessarily great detail) data for elsewhere.  Sometimes, I'm willing to incorporate some state/local government data (provided, sources are cited, I do enough added-value creative manipulation and combine it with other sources, and upload it here as raster - no SVG).   The arguments local governments use for copyrights are that they want to control redistribution of the data, to ensure it's accuracy, reliability, and integrity.  Some local governments charge fees (sometimes hefty fees) to get the data.  The arguments used by the Federal government (and others) for making GIS data public domain is that we already paid taxes for the creation of the data, and it's public information. In Britain, the EU, and other places, the laws are quite different, with those governments holding copyright. -Aude (talk | contribs) 03:15, 7 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: It appears local government data is becomming more and more public domain, at least in California. San Diego and LA counties are now making their data freely available after the state attorny issued an opinion that such data should not be copyrighted.--Drewdowling 19:23, 19 April 2006 (UTC)
replies: text: Shame on me, but I got most of the way through OMB_Circular_A-16 before I just got tired of reading the HTML version on the Whitehouse.gov site.  I don't think anyone has created an article for National Spatial Data Infrastructure or Federal Geographic Data Committee yet which manage a lot of the interoperability of these spatial systems.  I think this is somewhat relevant! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by RWilliamKing (talk • contribs) 22:23, 23 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Coyprightability?

message: The article started out correctly with "A Geographic Information System" but went on to incorrectly capitalise it (and Geographic Information Science), although the indefinite article clearly shows that this should not be capitalised. This is not like Global Positioning System or the Internet, where i'm all in favor of capitalisation because they are proper nouns. --Espoo 12:49, 9 October 2006 (UTC)
thread_title:  incorrect capitalisation 

message: I have a tip that Northrop Grumman, while not an agency, is using GIS for something.  I just thought it would be useful for the citation needed in
"Relating information from different sources" if someone wants to look into it and narrow it down to an actual webpage. 
By the way that section seems kind of random for "Techniques used in GIS".
To me "Relating information from different sources" equates to miscellaneous, and that’s what the content seems to be.  The word Relating seems to be an operating word, but it hasn't been operated.
== POV in THE GEODATABASE
I thought someone would have noticed this by now, so maybe I am incorrect. I hesitate to say anything at all because of my obvious connection to the subject. However, the addition made by Ryangis reads to me like marketing copy. Expressions such as "Now more than ever before" and "like never before" do not sound very encyclopedic. Also, other systems have had the functionality for years to "set the transparency in the [raster] file properties to a desired percentage." Anyone else notice this? -AndrewDressel 23:02, 8 January 2007 (UTC)
replies: text: Much better now, thanks to Mjrmtg. -AndrewDressel 16:40, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

text: There is an existing geodatabase article that treats the subject in a more general manner. I replaced the existing content (which only dealt with ESRI's implementation) with a link to the main article. Rschulz 18:25, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
thread_title:  Government Uses 

message: This section really needs some work.  It's very messy, vague and incomplete.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.51.70.232 (talk) 14:26, 19 September 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Raster Section

message: I have an issue with this statement:
:A geographic information system (GIS) (also known as geographical information system, particularly in the UK, and geomatics in Canada) is a system for...
I understand how "geographical information system" and "geographic information system" or "geographic information systems" can be interchangeably applied, however "geomatics" is not similar to an "information system" - it is a term that encompasses a far broader study relating to geographically-referenced information.... it is more comparable with the term "Geographic Information Science".  See a definition for geomatics here:
But what about "geomatics"?
This is a term that has been adopted by governments and private industry across Canada and which is becoming accepted worldwide. It encompasses the art, science, and technology involved in collecting and managing geographically-referenced information. This information can come from a variety of sources: earth orbiting satellites (e.g., the Global Positioning System; RadarSat), air and sea-borne sensors, and ground based instrumentation. Geographical information, manipulated with high tech computer hardware and software, plays an important role in activities such as environmental studies; management of land and marine resources; monitoring of dams, oil fields, and mines for subsidence or movement; navigation of ships and aircraft; oceanography; real estate transactions; and tourism.  UNB - Dept. of Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering
I propose removing the geomatics reference from the introduction section of this article, or rewording it somehow, since I believe it is misleading for the reasons stated above.Plasma east 14:30, 22 October 2007 (UTC)
thread_title: Intro section - confusing use of term "geomatics"

message: It is noted that there are at least four articles linked into this GIS 'See also' section:
* Public Participation GIS
* Traditional knowledge gis
* GIS in archaeology
* Historical GIS
which each deal with different, specific 'kinds of' applications to which GIS software can and has been put in the world .. and each are in need of some care and attention to be upgraded into Wikipedia standards..
Under the circumstances and given the nature of the articles in question .. it would seem appropriate to move them all and pull them all together into a single, new article entitled GIS applications —Preceding unsigned comment added by Bruceanthro (talk • contribs) 
*Combining all four of these into a single article would be quite long. What you want could be done much more simply by writing a summary of all four under GIS applications (which does not now exist), with links using the template  or . This will not lose information, and does not require admin intervention. Septentrionalis PMAnderson 16:17, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: Thanks for your otherwise sensible suggestion - I note that I started by trying to bring the four articles up closer to Wiki standard .. but found a lot of work was still required for them to be transformed into good, comprehensive Wikipedia quality, stand-alone articles.  At present, combined, they will make a single, good sized, more wholistic and informative, start class, stand-alonne article - unless or until the originals are able to be more fully upgraded and expanded?!! Bruceanthro (talk) 16:33, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: Do write the combination. At that point, suggestions to merge the four articles into the new one will be dealing with a visible proposal, not something in your mind's eye, and will receive more intelligent consideration. Septentrionalis PMAnderson 18:17, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
replies: text: OK .. while I am neither a specialist in this feild nor very knowledgable about the subject .. I have initiated GIS applications article .. as suggested.  You'll note it is no longer red-linked! Will this do for starters? Bruceanthro (talk) 01:26, 13 March 2008 (UTC)
thread_title: Requested Multi-Page Move to Single New Article

message: One of the most important issues in contemporary GIS is uncertainty, both in data acquisition and analysis. Uncertainty is little understood by the novice, and even experts have a difficult time when confronted with multiple datasets of disparate sources and types that are used as the basis for analysis. Without a proper grasp of uncertainty, it is very probable--even certain--that GIS users and developers will unwittingly make egregiously unscientific claims. Basic problems like the ecological fallacy and the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP) need to be mentioned. Ambiguity, vagueness, spatial error, classification error, boundary errors, etc. should be concisely described. A link should be provided to http://www.spatial-accuracy.org/ and other websites raising awareness for uncerainty. Without a discussion of uncertainty, many core issues faced by the GIS community are invisible to readers of this article. (Reference book Geographic Information Systems and Science chapter 6.)Lulolean (talk) 19:57, 14 May 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  Uncertainty in GIS 

message: The image :Image:GeaBiosOpenLaszloSatelliteMappingApplication2.PNG is used in this article under a claim of fair use, but it does not have an adequate explanation for why it meets the requirements for such images when used here.  In particular, for each page the image is used on, it must have an explanation linking to that page which explains why it needs to be used on that page.  Please check
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thread_title: Image copyright problem with Image:GeaBiosOpenLaszloSatelliteMappingApplication2.PNG

message: GIS customisation is the process of adding and/or modifying user interface and functionalities on an existing system to suit the requirements of a customer  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Sajeevang (talk • contribs) 09:00, 31 October 2008 (UTC)
thread_title:  GIS Customisation 

message: I was directed to this page by User:Opbeith to have a request solved.Can anyone help me.
Can anyone  get close to any climate organisation e.g NASA or others to get climate information on Nigeria containing average rainfall for all nigerian regions and use isohyets or contour lines to contruct the rainfall information of Nigeria for the Geography of Nigeria article and arrange them on the map in the format provided below.                                                                                               
  mm=Millimeters
      
 0 mm   - 500mm
 500mm  - 750mm
 750mm  - 1000mm
 1000mm - 1250mm
 1250mm - 1500mm
 1500mm - 1850mm
 1850mm - 2000mm
 2000mm - 2500mm
 2500mm - 3000mm
 3000mm - 3500mm
 3500mm - 4000mm
 above 4000mm.
 thanks Netknowle message me!  03:58, 15 June 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  I need help, 

message: Please define 'aspect' in this context Peter (Southwood) (talk): 08:35, 30 June 2011 (UTC)
thread_title:  Section "Slope and Aspect" 

message: Shouldn't we mention the advantages of a GIS program over Google Maps (or GPScoordinates/GIMP combo (the latter can capture maps -using printscreen- and edit them too (some google maps as http://flood.firetree.net/ even allow simple elevation info); some advantages I found
* GIS software may be connected to a online database with very detailed maps (level of zoom and elevation info/3D view; the latter also provides options for flood protection purposes)
* GIS can use satellite maps and road maps
* possibility to export/import specific map sections (4 GPS locations can be entered after which the program crops the map to the specified range) ?
* more options (distance calculation, ...)
In regards to the first (online database with very detailed maps); is GDAL/OGR such a database ? Or is it just a file conversion tool ? See http://grasswiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Importing_data
Other questions:
Can openstreetmaps maps be easily printscreen/pasted and/or are there export capabilities in some programs. I'm thinking of programs like navit, Rana, FoxtrotGPS, Trekbuddy, NaviPOWM, mumpot. Perhaps gvSIG mini may also be an option, although it's an Android app (not Linux/Windows program) ? See also Comparison_of_free_off-line_GPS_software
Does a mere printscreen/paste from Google Earth or Marble to a GIS allow to capture the elevation info (I suspect not). Is there an export function for this ? Can a specific map section be entered ?
109.130.201.33 (talk) 07:41, 13 May 2014 (UTC)
replies: text: Small update; copy/pasting doesn't seem to work with one free GIS (gvSIG), yet openstreetmap data can be loaded though (online database available); see 
http://blog.gvsig.org/2013/05/24/teselas-de-openstreetmap-sobre-gvsig/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUjN7SOwLQ4#action=share
WinXP users need v2218 for OSM support
109.130.201.33 (talk) 10:58, 13 May 2014 (UTC)
thread_title: Advantages of a GIS program over Google Maps/GIMP combo

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thread_title:  External links modified 

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message: The opening paragraph states:   Are these boundaries spacial, discipline-based, or something else?  An adjective would help.  With best wishes.  RobbieIanMorrison (talk) 12:16, 26 June 2017 (UTC)
thread_title:  Opening paragraph clarification 

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thread_title:  External links modified (January 2018) 

message: This article seems to be excessively long, and a handful of the subsections have their own articles (ie. Geostatistics). What is the general approach to this type of situation? Does it make sense to condense the information if it already exists elsewhere? Seems redundant to have a large section on this page that can easily be linked to another page. Or is this standard?  I don't want to come in and start deleting information without first checking to see what's acceptable practice. Mejorasi723 (talk) 16:35, 8 December 2020 (UTC)
replies: text: It is common for a broad topic like this to include a brief summary of many subtopics, with Main template links to link to the specific pages for those subtopics. The problem here is that many of those subtopics don't have separate pages into which the longer content can be moved. I would suggest new pages be created for GIS software (possibly just an expansion of List of GIS software), Data acquisition (GIS), Data quality (GIS), GIS application, maybe more. That said, I'm not sure what the encyclopedic head term (the title) should be for some of these.Bplewe (talk) 05:30, 29 December 2021 (UTC)
thread_title:  Excessive length 

message: I have done a fair amount of revision on this page over the last few days, reorganizing some sections to be in a more logical order, retitling some sections to be more standard, and adding some text that seemed to be necessary. However, this page still needs some serious text editing, perhaps a complete rewrite. Much of it sounds very amateurish, with lots of random sentences that don't flow together. I would still only give it a C grade.Bplewe (talk) 17:20, 29 December 2021 (UTC)
thread_title:  Page overhaul 

message: Question: everywhere I searched about Charles Picquet, his year of death is 1827. If this is correct, how could he have mapped the data for the cholera outbreak of 1832? 
It seems his son kept on publishing his father's maps after his death, but in this case, it would not be possible for Charles to have made the map by 1827 or before since the cholera hadn't reached Paris yet. 
Also, he is not listed as member of the comission who made the report (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k842918/f5.item). Cassianord (talk) 15:17, 11 November 2023 (UTC)
thread_title:  Charles Picquet as author of the 1932 cholera map