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A Brief History of GIS Development
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A Brief History of GIS Development

A Brief History of GIS Development

Early Uses of Maps and GIS

  • The interpretation of maps has been a crucial skill for centuries, used to represent real-world features and infer spatial patterns.
  • An early example of GIS-like analysis occurred during the 1854 cholera outbreak in London when John Snow mapped cholera cases and water pump locations, leading to the identification of a contaminated source.

Development of Layered Mapping

  • In the early 1900s, maps began to be created with separate layers (e.g., contours and water), although they were still hand-drawn on paper.
  • This layering concept laid the groundwork for modern GIS but lacked added value since no additional information was attached.

The Birth of Modern GIS

  • The first operational GIS, developed by Dr. Roger Tomlinson in the early 1960s, was called the Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS).
  • CGIS was designed to store and analyze data related to land capability in rural Canada, incorporating various factors like soils and land use.

Technological Advancements in GIS

  • Key developments at institutions like Harvard contributed significantly to modern GI systems; Tomlinson is often referred to as the "father of GIS."
  • The evolution of GIS software accelerated in the 1980s due to advancements in computer hardware, making it more powerful and affordable.

Rise of Desktop GIS Software

  • Notable hardware improvements included UNIX workstations and personal computers that facilitated better operating systems for running GIS software.
  • The introduction of user-friendly desktop GIS products led to a rapid increase in users who could leverage powerful GI software effectively.

Open Source Movement and Data Accessibility

  • Recent developments include free open-source GIS software aimed at reducing costs associated with commercial options while enhancing capabilities.
  • Established in 1994, the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) promotes open standards for geospatial data among diverse organizations globally.

Impact of Internet on GIS

Video description

GIS247 takes a brief look at recent developments in GIS.