Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Albert Einstein
Chapter 2
Getting Started
Before you start madly downloading software to assemble your GIS
toolkit, let's think a bit about your requirements, including what type of
mapping you are interested in doing. You may not know the answer to
that question. Most likely if you are starting out, you'll follow the same
path as Harrison—moving from visualization to creating your own data
to doing analysis. Ultimately, your needs, goals, and requirements will
guide you in assembling your toolkit. For example, there is no point in
assembling an industrial-strength system to simply view GPS tracks on
a map.
As you explore your needs, remember to keep open the possibility for
expansion. As you begin your journey into OSGIS, you may end up at
a destination you never considered. The good thing is, you can always
“upgrade” your toolkit.
2.1
The Three User Classes
If you are already a GIS user, you likely have a good idea of your
needs and requirements, but it's always good to reevaluate. Let's con-
sider three classes of GIS users to help you get started. To help us get
acquainted, we'll use the names Clive, Irving, and Alyssa.
The Casual User
Clive is a casual user, and what he likes to do is visualize mapping data.
His toolkit contains one or more GIS viewer applications and maybe
a custom data store—a place where data resides—such as a spatial
database. In the simplest case, Clive stores his data in files (shapefiles,
Tagged Image File Format [TIFF], and so on). He doesn't need big fancy
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