The Technical Basis of GIS

GIS provides new technological approaches to a variety of disciplines involved in the analysis of spatial data, and each of these related disciplines provides a number of techniques and methods that make up GIS.

First of all, maps are a form of recording information about the earth's surface, and from the viewpoint of historical development, GIS is born out of maps, while computer mapping technology is even more for the digital representation, manipulation, and display of map features to provide a set of methods, and for the design of the graphic output of the GIS, such as the design of the theoretical support. At the same time, the map is still the basic data source of GIS, but the map emphasizes the data analysis, symbolization and display, GIS focuses more on spatial analysis.

Secondly, database is also one of the technical basis of GIS. Database management system is mainly used to store, manage and query all kinds of data, and as far as possible with some simple statistical analysis function, which is an indispensable and important part of the modern geographic information system.

Third, remote sensing as a means of spatial data collection, become an important source of information and data updating pathway of GIS. Remote sensing (RS) image processing system contains complex analytical functions, and there are many methods for information enhancement and classification; geodesy provides precise positioning control information for GIS, especially the Global Positioning System (GPS), which can quickly and inexpensively obtain the digital location information of surface features; aerial photography and its application of precise measurement methods make photogrammetry become the main topographic data of GIS. Source. In short, remote sensing is an important data source and update means for GIS.

Fourth, the development of computer science plays a key role in GIS. According to the international definition, the development and use of GIS software basically belongs to the theory and method of computer applications in the addition of spatial location elements of the natural extension of the computer began to appear not long ago, in the last 10 to 15 years, the computer not only in the capacity and speed of the qualitative leap, and with the multimedia, network, database, software engineering, electronic technology and other rapid development, the development of GIS is also in the rapid progress (yellow, yellow, yellow, yellow). is advancing by leaps and bounds (Xingyuan Huang, 2004a, 2004b, 2004c). Almost every important progress in computer technology has led to significant advances in GIS technology, such as the management of spatial data, network GIS, 3D GIS, and other technologies, and every important step of development is related to the progress of computer information technology. Computer-aided design provides software and methods for data input, display and expression; computer graphics is one of the foundations of modern GIS, which provides software and hardware for graphics processing, display and its technical methods; the popularization of the network has made GIS a necessary working system for many institutions, especially government decision-making departments to a certain extent, due to the impact of the GIS to change the existing In particular, governmental decision-making departments have changed their existing ways of operation, settings and work plans to some extent due to the influence of geographic information systems; the development of artificial intelligence has also brought a positive impact on the technological progress of geographic information systems (Zhou Chenghu, 1995).

In short, GIS is a computer system capable of inputting, storing, managing, processing and analyzing geospatial data. It came into being with the development of computer technology, is a product of the development of information systems technology to an advanced stage.