Question

There are different types of software’s that utilize geographic data for
display of spatial information in civil Engineering. These range from
simple computer mapping to geographical information science.
a) Describe key functions or aspect of Arch GIS and Q-GIS
b) Examine five (5) main applications of GIS & Q-GIS in processing
geographical and geospatial data

(c). Digitizing is the process where features on a map or image are
converted into digital format for use by a GIS. Examine in details the
three primary methods for digitizing spatial information

Answer 1

a) Key functions of ArcGIS and Q-GIS

the key functions of ArcGIS and QGIS are

1) creating and using maps

2) compiling geographic information data and spatially plotting it

3) managing geographic and spatial data in a database

4) both ArcGIS and QGIS are a platform were the geographic and spatial data can be studied, reviewed and analysis performedd on it, to derive inputs for a variety of modelling tasks or other type of tasks

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b) Five main applications of GIS and Q-GIS

1) GIS can allow you to digitize a road network to understand which routes are preferred for morning commute to work or other purposes

2) GIS can allow you to spatially map the zone boundaries in an area to undestand what types of land uses exist in each zone, following which we can calculate trip generation from each zone based on certain quantities

3) GIS can allow us to visualize and analyze our data by sharing it via maps, apps and dashboards and reports

4) GIS can be used to understand effects of globlal warming by depicting the hotspots for climatic changes and melting ice packs.

5) GIS can be used to undertand what amount of traffic arriving at zone comes from which other parts of a network. This idea is used as a "select zone" feature in complex strategic transport modellign software like VISUM.

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C) Digitization of maps

Three primary methods are available for digitization of maps of which two are manual and one is automated. these are

i) Tablet digitizing - manual process

ii) Headsup digitizing - manual process

iii) Vectorization - software based

Tablet digitizing is a manual data capture method where in we enter latitude, longitude information into a computer by using a tablet and a digitizing puck. A paper map is fixed to a backlit digitizing tablet.

Heads-up digitizing, or on-screen digitizing, can be acomplished using either digital files of paper maps. If using maps, then the map is first scanned into the computer at high resolution that allow all pertinent features to be seen.

The third method vectorization requies a software package that can take a very high resolution scan, which helps convert raster scans into vectore lines

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