A GIS automates creating, analyzing,
manipulating, storing
, querying and
retrieval of spatial data for users.
However, there are various essential
skills that a user should have to utilize the capabilities of a GIS with ease
and produce quality products within the stipulated period of time and cost.
GIS
Data management
Data management is important to
ensure that all data being used is put in an easily accessible location within
the application to save time of retrieval.A GIS offers various data
management tools to work with during analysis based on the data loaded in the
application.The kind of projection used for
data in a GIS is vital in determining the actual location of features on the
earth’s surface.There are many projections
available in GIS that can be used depending on the analysis being carried out.
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| data management tools |
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| accessing layer properties |
Classifying gis data
.The appearance of layers in a GIS
should ensure visual balance and contrast to convey information to the map users effectively.
•GIS offer a wide variety of
Symbology techniques to use for features
in a map such as Single , Categorized,
Graduated depending on the data being used.
•Labels are used to identify show
the identity of features on a map. Labeling is a key skill for every GIS
user/professionals as the labeling method depends on user specifications.
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| Changing symbology for features |
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| Labeling features |
Handling Geo-processing tasks
•In the analysis stage in a GIS,
there are basic tools for which are very useful in carrying out processes based
on user’s specifications.
•There are basic tools that are
located in an easily-accessible place in a GIS. This helps in faster and easier
access of the tools.
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| Showing various Geo-processing tools |
Working with Attribute tables
•Attributes in spatial analysis aids
in better understanding of the data that is being used in a GIS.
•The user ought to check on the
attribute table to identify the fields to be used in various analysis.
•The table gives a capability for a
user to add or delete the attributes as per the user needs.
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| Accessing attribute table |
GIS DATA querying
•Data retrieval in any GIS analysis
is vital as data must be filtered amongst huge amounts of data.
•GIS offers a better and efficient
way of data query and retrieval from huge amounts of data using user defined
queries and expressions.
•Writing of these expressions is
quite easy to ensure faster and effective way of data retrieval.
•These queries can be done using
Python scripts or inbuilt querying functionality.
Working with GIS databases
•With the increase in chunks of GIS
data around us, we need us skills to store these data in a more sorted and
standardized manner-this led to advent of Geo-databases.
•A GIS guys has to be capable of
developing, administering and managing these data in Geo-databases.
GIS programming skills
•The recent proliferation of the
utilization of GIS in organizations call for more GIS applications to be made
available for users who have advanced skill in GIS and for those with little or
no skills.
•The GIS guy has the divine task to
develop simple GIS applications for various platforms to increase access and
utilization of GIS technology.
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| Writing queries in QGIS |
GIS Data presentation
•The aim of every GIS user is to
produce great map outputs signifying their work and meeting their goals of
analysis.
•This is done by well presenting the
data in the required formats for the targeted group to view or use the maps.
•GIS offers better and efficient
ways of presenting the outputs of user’s analysis.
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| Map Composing in QGIS |
Data publishing
•Modern technology has helped GIS
professionals share their work over the internet to a large number of users
across the globe. The internet provides a fast and effective platforms for
sharing data with users located at different places on the globe thus saving
cost of operation and also saving time for data dissemination.
•Modern GIS provides the
capabilities to publish user’s work from
their computers to the internet using various ways. One of the ways of
publishing data include the use of plugins.
•Example : QGIS Cloud plugin and
Qgis2Leaf plugin
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| Accessing web plugins |
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| Showing QGIS plugin for data publishing |