The authors have written the book skillfully and retained its relevance although the world of GIS is transforming so rapidly with evolving technology and multi-disciplinary applications. The examples cited in the chapters are aptly put and retain their logical connection even though the book was first published in The authors have demystified the complexity of GIS with a clarity of thought and purpose in this book.
As an introductory book, the chapters give a peripheral knowledge that the student must possess. Connecting the chapters to practical to-do lab exercises may have made each chapter more interesting. The book is consistent in its style and presentation. Complex and intricate terminologies have been avoided as far as practicable especially in the first five chapters to engage the reader and make the subject matter engrossing.
A requirement for modularity is to clearly define the interfaces between modules and enable the modules to work together. The steps involved in the transfer of the flow of control between the author s and reader seems well defined through the organization of chapters and dissemination of introductory information. The book is well organized for the teacher and well- balanced for the taught. The structure, flow and organization of the various sections is tidy, well-kept and straight. I do not see a Table of contents in the.
The online format looks better. I suggest a modification of the. All the associated web links work well in the. The book has been through multiple reviews to date. I did not notice any grammatical errors as such.
The book has a lucid syntax and makes splendid reading. The subject matter of the book is largely technical interspersed with management techniques. The examples and illustrations cited in the chapters could be drawn from multiple regions and industries, however. The world of GIS encapsulates almost every activity and it may interest readers and instructors far and wide.
I shall recommend this book to any reader who wants to understand the world of GIS. If a book can tell a complex subject and reads like a storybook, the authors have succeeded in making an impact on the uninitiated as well as the seasoned GIS practitioner. Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less. I would say the first and final chapter of this book are relatively unique when comparing it to other introductory GIS textbooks.
The final chapter is a summary of elements of project management. Each chapter begins with learning objectives and then gets into the main portion of the chapter. The authors include images that are generally informative and colorful. They end each chapter with key takeaways and exercises.
The exercises are typically reflective e. This textbook does not include GIS exercises or labs, so instructors using this book would need to have another source of these. This book covers the main basics of GIS, but is not a deep dive into the technology and what it can do at the introductory class level.
It was originally published with Flatworld as an OER, then when Flatworld was purchased only available at a cost for a while, and now it is available again as an OER. I reviewed some of the original chapters in when they were first written, and like the style and writing. I would describe the content as accurate, error-free and unbiased. Each author is going to have specific ideas about how to present content, but I think book does so in a fair and balanced manner.
It focuses more on the concepts of GIS as opposed to how it works, which I think is appropriate for this type of introductory text. The content covered tends to be the fundamentals of GIS, so I would say that the longevity is good by design. The big ideas in GIS covered in an introductory class are not evolving rapidly, but of course the software and applications are. The writing is clear and concise. The materials in this book are consistent in terms of terminology.
I am unsure what is meant by framework, but I would say at times the internal arrangement of materials was not always the most intuitive to me. For example, the final chapter on project management includes sections on working with CAD data, applications development, map series and grid-to-ground transformations. This seems like a very modular textbook to me. The topics are organized in a logical manner, and probably follow the typical organizational structure of many GIS instructors when teaching an introductory course.
There is always room for potential reorganization depending on how topics are covered, and the sections would help the instructor assign specific readings from chapters. The book is available in both a pdf and online format. The online format is nice, and has a table of contents with links to all chapters and sections within the chapters. Moreover, only page numbers appear on each page, there is no indication of what chapter you are in unless there is a figure number or section heading.
I also know that the original material was reviewed by external reviewers, so I hope that such edits were made during this process. This material is not culturally insensitive in any way. The authors also try so show some maps related to social justice when appropriate, such as deforestation, worldwide life expectancy, GDP and literacy disparities, etc.
This is where I feel the text struggled the most. Some of the basic and very important topics, such as projections, data classification, and visual hierarchy, were mentioned in such brevity that the reader is left without proper instruction on Comprehensiveness rating: 2 see less. Some of the basic and very important topics, such as projections, data classification, and visual hierarchy, were mentioned in such brevity that the reader is left without proper instruction on these topics.
The text tries to cover so much that it often seems rushed and lacks comprehensiveness in many areas. No index or glossary is included. I was pleasantly surprised to find the text mostly free of errors. However, with the text having been published 8 years ago some of the links provided were no longer active or incorrect. I did find some areas in which the terms or explanations used did not fit standard conventions.
Additionally, in a portion of Chapter 9 the figures are not referenced to in the text, only empty parentheses are included. With a technology like GIS, changes happen very quickly and with a major software revision to one of the most widely used commercial products occurring in updates would be needed to portions of the text to increase relevance.
While some of the information may at first glance seem dated, the historical information presented provides the reader with background as to where GIS has been. On the converse, the text is not forward looking which is needed for a text based on computer technology. The book was designed as an introductory text for individuals that are not familiar with GIS.
There are a lot of terms to learn with each indicate in bold text and well explained, but no index or glossary is provided. Many practical examples are used throughout the text which helps the reader understand the application of the concepts presented. I found no issues with internal consistency. The framework used - a chapter introduction, and learning objectives at the beginning and key takeaways at the end of each section lends to a well thought out text.
The text can be readily broken down into smaller sections, not only by chapter, but within each chapter there are multiple sections that are clearly divided by topic. I found the text topics did not flow well between a few of the chapters and with some rearrangement recommended.
Furthermore, some of the chapter and section titles did not accurately represent the content or in one incidence repeated similar information.
What did work was the use of an introductory section at the beginning of each chapter along with basic exercises provided at the end of each section within a chapter. In the PDF form there are quite a few images that run off the page, but when viewing the text online these issues do not exist. Otherwise, the graphics and interface work well. Reviewed by Edward Davis, Professor, Depat.
Campbell has covered GIS in a very complete way - the text may not include every possible element of the subject, but I think all the GIS essentials are given very complete explanations. I particularly like the excellent coverage of data I particularly like the excellent coverage of data structures and statistics. These are areas sometimes given inadequate coverage, but Campbell gives them very good attention.
The latter chapters on cartography and project management are often neglected in GIS textbooks, but Campbell provides solid chapters that should really benefit students. One area that could have more coverage is remote sensing, which is a closely related field, but that is seldom taught within a GIS course - it is best taught separately. The book is quite accurate, in my opinion. I am a stickler for accuracy, but I found just a few errors - fewer than in most textbooks.
One small error will be discovered by students in Figure 4. But other than that, and a few typos, I am impressed with the writing, editing, and overall attention to the subject. The textbook is designed to be relevant for years. Published in , it is now 8 years old, and it seems quite up-to-date. Yes, some of the references may seem outdated, but Campbell has written the book in such a way that the essentials are not hidden by a fascination with rapidly shifting technology.
For example, the data structures and the computer languages being used in relation to GIS now are mostly the same or simply derivative of those the author describes. It would be impossible to keep up with all the computer language options in this kind of text - any professor will have to supplement the text with updates on that.
This is not a flaw in Campbell's book. The same is true for examples. Campbell tries to avoid using examples that would be easily outdated. The writing is clear and easy to follow. I think students should have no trouble reading and even being fascinated by the field as presented here.
I do think three improvements could be made: A. Many of the diagrams could be better designed. I find quite a few of them to be overly simplistic, to the point where the reality being modeled is too hard to imagine. More examples from the real world should be included, particularly when talking about the most difficult subjects, such as data structures and project management. Students will easily follow the examples already shown, but in some sections, the author seems to have forgotten to maintain his good style.
The book is consistent in its presentation of the subject. Campbell shows he is a good writer and organizer. We should also credit the editor s. The quality shows. The chapters are logically structured and not too long.
But sometimes the author goes on too long without subheadings, which can allow the reader to be distracted. Our modern culture creates short attention spans, unfortunately. The book should work to reflect the typical student reader's ability to focus. Most teachers will find the book to be logically organized and each chapter properly connected to the others. One complaint I have is the decision to place cartography at the end of the book.
In my experience, students enjoy knowing these design principles earlier, so they can apply them in the middle of the course. I encountered no interface problems other than a few defunct links, which is inevitable.
The simplicity of design helps in this regard. The book is US-centric, but as far as I could see it is not insensitive to culturally diverse groups. Perhaps more examples from other cultures could be included. In act, as I think about it, it seems the book could use more examples, so if there is to be a second edition, the best choice would be examples from outside the US.
I like the book so much that I may adopt it for my course next year. Where it is flawed, I can make up the difference with a few adjustments additional examples and diagrams. The book is not very Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less. The book is not very concise, but it is well written, engaging, and promotes the critical thinking of the reader by interspersing several questions and comments to encourage the critical examination of the content presented e.
I also appreciate that it helps developing a sense of the type of questions that can be examined using a GIS and spatial thinking skills. Each unit starts with a clearly laid out set of objectives and concludes with a summary of the main takeaways and a set of exercises. Altogether the units provide a broad foundation of GIS and mapping. Some of the main topics covered include: Spatial Thinking and GIS definition, map types mental, reference, thematic, dynamic , map elements and scale representation, GIS data models and associated file formats vector vs.
Overall, the level of depth is adequate for an introductory textbook, but there are few potential weaknesses: i the unit on coordinate systems and projections did not seem to offer the necessary depth, and did not include a discussion on planar coordinate systems, omitting two widely used coordinate systems in the U. UTM and State plane , ii the textbook does not cover how to read and specify coordinates from paper maps or USGS digital topo maps, iii the unit on remote sensing is also quite brief and defines spectral resolution using the term wavelength without defining it first, some additional links would be helpful in this regard, iv there is no coverage of the different types of thematic maps choropleth, dot density, graduated symbols, flow maps, etc and the data suitable to be represented by each type.
Choropleth maps are briefly defined in unit 6, but the definition omits an important characteristic of them: the data represented in choropleth maps are aggregated by area e. In addition, the authors use a choropleth map of population by county in the U.
Choropleth maps are ideal to identify spatial patterns, but their use with absolute numbers is discouraged because in many cases the aggregation units differ in size. Since it is difficult to make comparisons across units of varying sizes, transforming the data to percentages and rates is recommended when using choropleth maps.
A table of contents is provided in the description of the textbook, but not in the version of the. There is no glossary or index of terms, which would be very useful. Most of the book focuses on the fundamentals of GIS, is up-to-date, and will remain relevant over the long term. Some references to GIS applications, external links, and software will need to be checked and updated on a regular basis. The book is well written at an introductory level. Most of the concepts included are defined in a clear, accessible manner, with a few exceptions e.
There are internal references to other chapters in the book. It would be very useful to have a table of contents in the. The sequence of topics and chapters progresses logically, but personally I would have preferred having Chapter 9 cartographic principles after Chapter 6 data characteristics and visualization.
A table of contents is included in the description of the book, but there is not a table of contents included in the. This hinders navigating through the text and having a sense of the extent and structure of the book. It is also more difficult to refer to specific chapters for assignment. The online version starts with a hyperlinked table of contents and each chapter has links to the table of contents, as well as the previous and next chapter.
The internal links to other chapters included in the text do not seem to work, this is also true for the. The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive. The authors promote a critical examination of what information is presented in map and the implications of how it is presented e. This text is an excellent resource as an introductory GIS course for undergraduate and graduate students in a computer technology curriculum who have not had any prior experience with GIS.
There are ten chapters in the text which review GIS in a logical flow beginning with chapter 1 explaining GIS and why it is used. Within this chapter there is a discussion of spatial thinking and how we use special thinking every day. Chapter 1 also provides an overview of geographic concepts which define GIS and how GIS is currently used and how it may be used in the future; in addition, there is a discussion on the geospatial web. All of this affords a good foundation for the remaining chapters.
The remaining chapters present understandable lessons on cartography and cartographic principles, maps, map types, data and information, data files and formats, GIS data models, satellite imaging, data visualization, geospatial analysis and GIS project management. Each chapter begins with learning objectives and ends with a review of concepts learned and topical exercises.
In addition, the charts and illustrations provide good visual learning support. The content seems relevant and up-to-date since the authors provide link to pertinent websites. It seems that any updates can be added to the chapters if needed.
Overall this text presents a well-balanced, clearly written and informative introduction to Geographic Information Systems. I enjoyed reading this text and will use it for the GIS course. Comprehensive information about data formats, data operations, and analysis. Less coverage of fundamental concepts, applications, and cartography. The chapters about GIS data formats and data management are thorough and well-organized, though The chapters about GIS data formats and data management are thorough and well-organized, though they too would read better if they included more narratives and concrete examples from the field.
The information here is dense and thoughtfully explained, and diagrams support the concepts well. No errors stand out; the book shows a certain level of generalization, appropriate for an introductory text. This book takes an ecumenical approach to the choice of software; the authors wisely observe that GIS software changes quickly, and that students and instructors might choose any number of tools.
This approach is welcome, in a world that too often teaches the details of one piece of software rather than the longer-lived principles that underly that software. Some more discussion of the ideas that programs embody, though, would help introduce in students a useful skepticism. The text is clearly written. The quality of the graphics varies considerably, an issue in a book that leans heavily on diagrams, example data, and model maps. Some sections would be clearer with more skillfully-drawn graphics.
The explanation of projections, particularly, suffers. Other sections, like the chapters on searches and queries, and on vector operations, are accompanied by excellent graphics. More case studies and narratives would help readers, particularly novices. The book offers a handful of examples—a glimpse at deforestation in the Amazon, or a hypothetical database query and its effects on returned data—but they are rare and abbreviated.
More stories, and more real-world data, would help turn abstract concepts into concrete ones. The design of the book deserves a note. I read the PDF-formatted book. Whether for screen viewing or for printing, the book would be far more readable if lines were shorter. Generally neutral; appropriate awareness of the cultural frameworks that surround our use of maps. They begin with a general introduction to geographic and spatial concepts and the role of GIS within geography , and proceed to lay out Chapters 6 through 9 are dedicated to visualization and analysis, including selecting, searching and querying data, classifying data, common single- or multiple-layer analyses, raster and surface analysis, and basic cartography color, symbology, map design.
Chapter 10 concludes with an important, albeit often overlooked, discussion about the challenges of effective project management, both in general and as specifically relates to the particularities of GIS projects.
Although aiming toward providing a broad overview of GIS, Campbell and Shin also elaborate on a fair amount of subfield specifics, but not so much as to obscure or distract from the central points of interest.
The strength of the book is the emphasis on GIS practice and the actual decisions that lead from conceptualization and project planning to an effective deliverable with useful information. I found no glaring conceptual errors or omissions. The book is generally relevant and up-to-date, as relates to the current ecosystem of common GIS software, hardware, workflows, and functions.
That said, technology, data, methods quickly evolve, and the book will need to be updated as-needed. Gives complete, up-to-date coverage to the concepts and techniques pertaining to every stage of the systems development life cycle of GIS, as well as its applications to various areas of spatial problem solving and decision making.
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Geographic Information Systems and Science - Copy. Paul A. Longley, Michael F. Goodchild, David J. Maguire, David W. Jump to Page. Search inside document. Number of students or teachers and other status GIS is a computer-based tool for solving real-world problems.
Which WhichSchools Schoolsare arewithin within meter of the road meter of the road A meter buffer is created on either side of the road to find the schools within the meter distance. Amit Srivastava. Ajay Vijay. Hari Prasad. Nitin Warrier. Ravindra Mathanker. Umar Ali. Indra Putra Rusadi.
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