Explorations
in Geographic Information Systems Technology: A Workbook SeriesDeveloped by the Clark Labs. Published by UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research)
Each workbook includes two sections:
1. a review paper that explores the use of GIS analytical techniques
in the defined field of study, complete with extensive bibliography
2. a set of exercises that allows the user to apply these techniques
to geographically diverse case study problems using real digital data sets
and GIS software*
This series will be of interest to a wide audience, including resource managers, researchers in each workbook's application area, educators, and anyone interested in learning more about GIS.
* The exercises are written for use with the raster GIS software
IDRISI (DOS or Windows), which is not included with the workbooks. Conversion
for use with other GIS software packages may be possible.
Volume
1: Change and Time Series Analysis, 2nd Edition
This workbook covers the issues and problems involved in examining remotely-sensed
sequential images and illustrates analytical techniques for the differentiation
of meaningful change versus normal variation within the images, and characterizing
and quantifying change events.
Case Study Exercises Include:
Volume
2: Applications in Forestry
This workbook explores the role of GIS in forest management and resource assessment. The purpose is to provide foresters and other natural resource managers who have already had an introductory level course in GIS with the means to gain a strong appreciation for the application of GIS to forestry concerns.
Case Study Exercises Include:
Volume
3: Applications in Coastal Zone Research and Management
This workbook explores the role GIS may play in coastal zone research and management. Growing pressures due to development and pollution have made environmental assessment and management a new priority in coastal zone research. GIS is a powerful addition to the tools used to address these issues.
Case Study Exercises Include :
Volume
4: GIS and Decision Making
This workbook explores techniques for environmental decision making using GIS, with special reference to the problems introduced by uncertainty in both the database and decision rule models. Unlike other workbooks in the series, the review paper and exercises are merged into a unified exploration. In addition to the exercise datasets, the workbook is also distributed with a set of IDRISI specialized analytical routines for implementation of Bayesian Probability analysis, Fuzzy Set theory, Multi-Criteria Evaluation and Multi-Objective Land Allocation.
Case Study Exercises Include :
Volume
5: GIS and Mountain Environments
This workbook will explore the unique considerations that mountain characteristics pose to a GIS user in any field who works within a mountain environment. This volume deals with issues of representation and interpretation of a 3-dimensional space in two dimensions and the impact of such representations on the data derived from such. Ultimately, the impact of mountain characteristics on planning is raised.
Case Study Exercises Include :
Volume
6: Applications in Hazard Assessment and Management
This workbook will explore the role of GIS in identifying, assessing, and managing both natural and technological hazards.
Case Study Exercises Include :
Compatible with the DOS version of IDRISI : All volumes
currently available.
Compatible with IDRISI for Windows : Volumes 1-4 currently
available, volumes 5 and 6 available August 1996.
Workbooks may be obtained from the IDRISI Project.
Price of each Workbook: $75 Plus Shipping.