Data Input
Dr. Sandipan Das
Assistant Professor
Symbiosis Institute of Geoinformatics
Introduction
• Data entry involves 60-80% of total
implementation cost.
• Majority of data entry methods require a
lot of time.
Primary & Secondary data
Primary data
- Direct measurement of objects
- E.g. Remote sensing images, GPS, survey data
Secondary data
- Data obtained from primary source
- E.g. re-scanned images, digitizing maps, digital
elevation model.
Analog & Digital data
Analog data
- Paper format
- E.g. Paper maps, Reports, Aerial photographs
Digital data
- Computer readable format
- E.g. remote sensing data, scanned maps, scanned
aerial photographs
GIS Data Sources
• Conventional analog map
• Reports & Publications
• Aerial Photography
• Satellite Remote Sensing
• Field data
• Existing digital map
Free GIS Data Sources - Raster & Vector Datasets
• USGS Earth Explorer
• Sentinel Satellite Data
• Bhuvan Indian Geo-Platform of ISRO
• Diva GIS
• Natural Earth Data
• OpenStreetMap
• NASA’s Socioeconomic Data and Applications
Center (SEDAC)
• Open Topography
• NASA Earth Observations (NEO)
Free GIS Data Sources - Raster & Vector Datasets
• NOAA CLASS
• UNEP Environmental Data Explorer
• ISCGM Global Map
• JAXA’s Global ALOS 3D World
• NOAA Digital Coast
• Global Land Cover Facility (GLCF)
• DigitalGlobe
• UNAVCO Research Data
• FAO GeoNetwork
Data input processes
1. Keyboard entry
2. Scanning
3. Digitization
4. Field data/GPS data
5. Text files with x-,y- coordinate
Data input process - Keyboard entry
• Entry data into a file
at a computer
terminal
Data input process – Scanner
• Convert map or
document into digital
images.
Types of scanner
1. Flat bed scanner
2. Rotating drum scanner
3. Large format feed scanner
Data input process – Digitization
• Process of interpreting and
converting paper map or
image data to vector
digital data.
On tablet digitization
• Digitizers are used to
capture data from
hardcopy maps.
on screen digitization
• Digitization is done using
scanned copy of the map
on the computer
monitor screen.
On-screen vs. on-tablet digitizing
• On-screen more comfortable for the operator
• On-screen generally more accurate ( zooming facilities )
• On-screen is faster
• On-screen – updating easy
• Digitising tablet –easier to do larger maps
• Digitising tablet –better for worn out maps
Point and stream mode digitization
Automatic digitization
• GIS finds features from
scanned image with little or
no interaction from operator.
• e.g. Contour lines
Selecting a digitizing technique (manual or automatic)
• Depends on the quality, complexity and contents of the input
document.
• Complex images - manually digitized e.g. topographic maps
and aerial photographs
• Simple images - automatically digitized e.g. cadastral maps,
contour lines
Field data – Survey data
• Surveying is a vital part of
infrastructure development
1. Building roads
2. Communication systems
3. Transportation networks
4. Pipelines
5. Property boundaries
Field data – GPS data
• GPS provides location
and time information
• GPS is widely used for
surveying.
Text files with x-,y- coordinates
• Geospatial data can be generated from a text
file that contain x-,y- coordinates
Activity
Q1) The input data for GIS are
a. Satellite image
b. Aerial photograph
c. Maps
d. All of the above
Answer : Option D
Activity
Q2) Which of the following methods may be used
to input paper maps into a GIS?
a. Automatic digitizing
b. Manual digitizing
c. Scanning
d. Keyboard entry
Answer : Option A, B & C
Activity
Q3) In point mode digitising points are added
automatically at set time or distance intervals as
the user moves the cursor across the map.
a. True
b. False
Answer : False
Activity
Q4) What is ‘Metadata’ ?
a) It is ‘ data about data’
b) It is ‘meteorological data’
c) It is ‘oceanic data’
d) It is ‘contour data’
Answer : Option A
Activity
Q5) Information in GIS is entered and stored as
a) panels
b) layers
c) single panel
d) dual-panel
Answer : Option B
Activity
Q6) Keyboard entry is no longer used in GIS projects.
a. True
b. False
Answer : False
Activity
Q7) The GPS System was developed by
a. FBI
b. US Department of Defense
c. CIA
d. FBI
Answer : Option B
Activity
Q8) GPS measurement provides
a. Latitude, longitude and elevation
b. Latitude and longitude
c. Distance between objects
d. Latitude, longitude, elevation and bearing
Answer : Option A
Thank You
