ABSTRACT
The chapter provides an overview of core GIS conceptual and technical topics that are foundations in subsequent chapters. The chapter first discusses what a GIS is and what it can and cannot do. Topics include spatial data and asset management, data querying and table joining, spatial analysis, GIS programming and application programming interfaces (APIs), spatial modeling, cartography, visualization, and map production, geocoding, animation and 3D, mobile GIS, field data collection, and GIS limitations. GIS data models (raster, vector, triangulated irregular networks (TIN), and networks) along with GIS metadata are also discussed. A survey of specific commercial (Esri ArcGIS Pro), open-source (QGIS), and other GIS technologies (Google) is also made to inform the reader of specific GIS technology options available for desktop, Web, and mobile platforms. The chapter includes ideas on open data for disaster management, sources of free GIS data, and ideas on how to choose the right GIS technology for disaster management in terms of getting started with GIS and building an open-source geospatial stack. The chapter concludes with three technical exercises: (1) table joining in GIS, (2) Python scripting in ArcGIS Pro, and (3) Python scripting in QGIS.
