A Primer of GIS: Fundamental Geographic and Cartographic Concepts

by Francis Harvey

This accessible text prepares students to understand and work with geographic information systems (GIS), offering a detailed introduction to essential theories, concepts, and skills. The book is organized in four modular parts that can be used in any sequence in entry-level and more specialized courses. Basic cartographic principles are integrated with up-to-date discussions of GIS technologies and applications. Coverage includes everything from what geographic information is to its many uses and societal implications. Practical examples and exercises invite readers to explore the choices involved in producing reliable maps and other forms of geographic information. Illustrations include 170 figures (with 15 in color). The companion website provides links to Web resources for each chapter, plus downloadable PowerPoint slides of most of the figures.

New to This Edition
*Chapter on online mapping and Big Data.
*New and updated discussions of remote sensing, vector and raster data models, location privacy, uses of geocoding, and other timely topics.
*Chapter on the many uses of GIS, such as in market analyses, emergency responding, and tracking of epidemics.
*Section overviews and an end-of-book glossary.

Pedagogical Features
*Modules and individual chapters can be used sequentially or in any order.
*End-of-chapter review questions with answers, exercises, and extended exercises for applying theories and concepts.
*"In-Depth" sidebars offering a closer look at key concepts and applications.
*End-of-chapter links to relevant Web resources.

Genres: Geography

360 pages, Unknown Binding

First published September 16, 2015

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was the text for GEO 221: Introduction to Geographic Information. While the required readings did not encompass the entire book, what was required was enough. The chapters were not very long, but the format and material was not very user friendly. It was difficult to take notes and highlight key points in the text. The figures and pictures were rarely referenced which made me wonder if they were even important. The material was easy to understand and grasp, but it was just very dry.

[Leah Markum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am sure there are better cartography/GIS books out there, but considering how few these books are, I respect this one. The chapters are readable for someone who has a general geography interest and enlightens on the challenges involved with translating the world (or parts of it) onto a map. I am sure it could be more in-depth or even more entertaining but it makes a good compromise between the general reader and the serious GIS student.

[Muhammad al-Khwarizmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad if you mind the typos and a certain deal of the sort of SJW horseshit that's infected much of social science. There is a passage about how, for some, the lines and angles of the current American landscape stand for "imperialism" without regard to the fact that Mesoamerican cities had much the same geometry. That sort of thing doesn't belong in this kind of book at all. But it was overall useful for a refresher on the topic.

[Engi Amin]

Just for the record that once upon a time I actually had to study this!!! :/