GIS for Beginners: Introductory Geographic Information Systems Concepts and Hands-on Exercises
Full Review

Reviewed by: Michelle M. Thompson, Visiting Scholar, Cornell University Department of City and Regional Planning, USA
Review posted 23 May 2005
Review No. 41

CD-ROM Information

Content: Presents introductory information on geographic information systems (GIS), and clear examples of how GIS can be useful to local governments, communities, and individuals.
Publication Date: 1 June 2001
Audience: Novice GIS professionals and/or students; practitioners and community partners interested in GIS

Size: 380 MB
Price: US$10 ICIMOD member countries, US$15 developing countries, US$20 developed countries
Manual needed: Yes
How to order:

Order by mail:
Shiva Hari Khatri
Distribution Assistant of ICIMOD
P.O. Box 3226
Kathmandu
Nepal

E-Mail: distri@icimod.org.np
Tel: +977 1 552 5313, 553 6747
Fax: +977 1 552 4509

Download order form.*

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Full Review

The GIS for Beginners CD-ROM, produced by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), provides tools and techniques for understanding the theories and applications of GIS.

The main menu window presents four navigation buttons: GIS Concepts, Hands-on Exercises, Instructor Sets, and System Requirements. The hands-on exercises were the best part of the CD-ROM.

The CD-ROM could be improved with a more complete "Implementing GIS" chapter, higher quality images and screen shots, more careful translations, and more metadata information. The latter would be especially useful because in the future it will be critical for developing countries to standardize dataset methodology and reporting of metadata for  mapping analyses.

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Users

This course is for novice GIS professionals and/or students. Its objectives are not clearly stated. However, this course gives a broad overview of essential GIS concepts, and provides examples of usage and hands-on training. Practitioners and community partners interested in GIS would also find this useful.

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Content

There are nine chapters:

The chapters are pdf files presented in a Flash interface and linked together for easy navigation of the entire text. In general, it is similar to the Environmental Systems Research Institute's (ESRI) GIS for Everyone.* The CD-ROM contains specific examples relating to Nepal and the Kathmandu area.

The best part of the CD-ROM is the four-part Hands-on Exercises section:

1. Understanding Digital Maps:  Represent various attributes of a map as layers of digital geographic data.
2. Finding Answers with Digital Maps:  Set the Map Tips tool to read any attributes of a map, use the Find tool and the Query Builder, and conduct geographic analysis (e.g. using data to measure distances).
3. Telling Stories with Digital Maps:  Create a map of cultural heritage sites in Kirtipur municipality, a map showing road accessibility for each district in Nepal, and a map showing literacy rates to support establishment of new schools.
4. Building a Digital Map:  Make a map of Kathmandu from digital data.

Each chapter is a pdf file with a clear introduction, followed by step-by-step guidelines for analyzing map information with the ArcExplorer software (included in the CD-ROM). The Telling Stories with Digital Maps chapter is perhaps the best. It includes three different 'explorations' (exercises) that teach how to create custom maps that--among other user needs--can be used to support different project and budgetary proposals.

The CD-ROM has strong potential, though it needs polishing.  There are lapses in the sentence structure, and transitions could be smoother with more editing.  Some sections remain incomplete such as Field Data Collection and How GPS Works. The Implementing GIS chapter could also be expanded, with more reference to the ESRI texts that discuss developing a GIS assessment as part of the continuum of planning necessary to undertake a GIS. Additionally, the development, management, time, and costs associated with the creation of a GIS should be discussed.

The sample maps could be of higher quality. These maps do not adequately demonstrate standard mapping and cartographic techniques, which should be part of the 'Presenting Maps' instruction, and mentioned throughout the other chapters.

Lastly, the authors have borrowed concepts from many GIS resources, but have not adequately cited those sources.

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User Friendliness

User friendliness could be improved. For example, the auto start function does not work. Precisely for these types of problems, there could be printed instructions about how to use the CD-ROM both on and off-line. We must assume that some users may not be familiar with starting the program should autorun not engage. Perhaps also some mention of Windows versus MAC issues would be helpful (even to say that the CD-ROM works perfectly on both operating systems).

It would also help if the Foreword and Table of Contents with sub-headings were available in a small printed CD-ROM jacket.  This would provide a good overview prior to starting the CD-ROM. The jacket could also list memory requirements. Presently, the requirements section in the CD-ROM only lists the programs needed to install (e.g. Acrobat reader, ArcExplorer, Internet Explorer), with no mention of memory requirements which might be important to some users.

In terms of the programs recommended, there should be more internet browser options presented. The CD-ROM recommends Internet Explorer, but since Internet Explorer can be easily tracked with viruses and spam, alternate web browsers (e.g. Mozilla*, Opera*, Avant*, etc.) could be recommended.

Users should be reminded to install all the required programs prior to starting the tutorial. Consideration could be given to a complementary website that would include a Frequently Asked Questions, additional data or lesson downloads, and point to other GIS-related training resources (e.g. ESRI's Virtual Campus*). This website could also serve as an ongoing resource with links to websites related to each of the chapter headings.

*This link takes you outside the ADBI website. Please use the back button to return to ADBI.org.

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Navigability

The paths to each section were clearly laid out and easy to understand. As for printing pdf pages, only the print icon within Adobe Acrobat worked, not the browser's "File>Print" command. The ArcExplorer software is easy to use and helps maintain interest.

The bibliography and glossaries were included within chapter 4 of the Hands-on Exercises section. This does not seem appropriate.  To improve navigability, these sections should instead be found on the main menu page.

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Interactive Facilities

The best part of the course is the Hands-on Exercises, which provide a basic understanding of digital maps and how to interact with them.  Users learn to distinguish and appreciate the difference between the dynamic nature of digital maps and static paper maps.

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Distribution

The course content is complete on the CD-ROM and includes the necessary software for installation (e.g. ArcExplorer, Adobe Acrobat, Internet Explorer). ICIMOD has an online order form*, and they accept checks, MasterCard and Visa credit cards. You can also have them bill you.

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Sustainability

Users should be made aware that the ArcExplorer can be downloaded for free from the ESRI website* and may have a higher level of functionality than the version enclosed. However, if the exercises are matched to the 1.1 version then it will serve its purpose.

*This link takes you outside the ADBI website. Please use the back button to return to ADBI.org.

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