GIS and Remote Sensing

ENVS 316
Michael and Irvin Shandu

School of AEE, Department of Geography

University of KwaZulu-Natal

2025
 Introduction to the Module
ENVS 316

Available in text book:

“Geographic_Information_Systems_and_Science_2nd edition:”
Section 1.3 The Science of problem solving
page 13 to page 16
 Module outline:

First term cover GIS

GIS
Second term cover Remote Sensing
RS
Practical Sessions and Contents
Every Monday from 2pm to 5pm
GIS Practical sessions RULE
1. A group of 20 students will have a demi-assigned
2. A demi will be available during the practical to assist with
practical challenges.
3. Submit your practical report every week after completing
the practical
4. Cheating or copying will not be taken lightly.
Module outline
Overall Learning Outcome
To understand the principles of Geographic Information
Sciences (GIS); geographic data models (vector and raster
models); database development and management techniques;
and spatial data analysis.
To evaluate the quality and suitability of GIS data for diverse
applications.
Illustrate proficiency in the use of GIS software to build
database, perform spatial analysis, and prepare presentation
of outputs results (maps, reports, and charts).
www.esri.com  training  course catalog
Overall Learning Outcome…
To understand the principles of Remote Sensing (RS) and
digital image processing

To illustrate proficiency in the use of image processing

remote sensing software

To apply GIS and RS analysis techniques to solving problems

in the environmental and life sciences.
 Reading materials:
Geographic Information Systems and Science 2nd Edition by Paul A.
Longley
\\146.230.128.45\student share\GIS DBN\Westville\Prof M
Gebreslasie\ENVS 316 Text book

Principles of Remote Sensing. By Klaus Tempfli Norman Kerle Gerrit C.

Huureman and Lucas L. F. Janssen:
https://webapps.itc.utwente.nl/librarywww/papers_2009/general/principlesremotes
ensing.pdf
 GIS Definition
A computer-based programme for the input, storage, manipulation,
analysis, and output of spatial (geographic) data

One of the misconceptions about GIS is that it is only a map-

making tool. GIS does much more! (enables users to analyze/study
spatial data/patterns for a specific use)

A tool for decision making when solving geographic problems.

 GIS and its history
From Cartography to GIS
Cartographers aim to represent geographic features and their
relationships on a plane. This involves both the
• The art of reduction, interpretation, and communication of
geographic features and
• The science of transforming coordinates from the spherical to a
plane through the construction and utilization of map projections.
Spatial data used to be a time consuming, expensive task
Technology has provided solutions in the form of GPS,
electronic total stations, RS, and GIS.
GIS as a technology and its main paradigm for representing the
features of the earth and structuring spatial data …
In the mid 1960s, professionals from a range of disciplines were
working to release the handling of spatial data digitally.
The Harvard Graduate School of Design,
The Canada Land inventory, and
The U.S.A census bureau.
In each of these organizations were small groups of pioneers who
made important contributions toward laying the foundations for
today’s GIS industry.
 Components of GIS
Hardware - desktop computers, laptops, centralized servers.

Software - It provides the Graphical User Interface (GUI) for

easy display and access to tools for input, visualizing,
processing, editing, analyzing and querying geographic data.
Examples of GIS software ArcGIS, QGIS, ENVI and many
more.
Data - Data is stored as geographic data (spatial data) and
related tabular data (non-spatial data).
 Components of GIS
Methods - The methods are the procedure followed to answer
the question need to be resolved. Method in GIS includes how
the data will be accessed, stored, managed, processed, analyzed

User/people - People in GIS are technical persons (GIS

managers, database administrators, specialists, analysts, and
programmers) who design and maintain the GIS work and those
who use it.
 Why studying GIS?
GIS can be used as a decision-making tool in various
applications.
Efficient way of capturing, storing, manipulating and analyzing
large volumes of spatial data.
Data captured by satellites can be uploaded into GIS and show
all kinds of information about a city, such as income, voting
patterns or transportation networks.
GIS Practical Applications - 3 practical applications of GIS in
three disciplines, which are Environmental science, Geology
and Marine biology.
 GIS Applications
Environmental Science
– Suitability mapping. E.g finding the best suitable site for a new
land fill site. GIS can be used to find all the highly suitable land
parcels for the new landfill site.
- Modelling using GIS tools and input data sets (layers with
residential areas, water sources, elevation and topographic
characteristics of the area.
- Visual maps showing the best land parcels will be the
outputs.
 GIS Applications
Geology
- Exploration of oil, exploration of oil in any area requires
geologists to know the gravity of the area
- The utilization of the spatial data helps the geologists in coming
up with a more accurate interpretation and new innovative
approaches
- The GIS tools are essential and valuable in determining,
tracking, and monitoring the gravity data acquisition and to
ensure that the data, which has been acquired is reliable
 GIS Applications
Marine biology
- Mapping movement of aquatic animals
- This can range from the distribution of sampling sites to survey
tracks, capture locations, movements of individual animals and
information about the distribution of specific habitat types
- Plotting the spatial distribution of sampling sites may help you
see whether sites which are closer to each other are more similar
than those which are further apart.