Library Guides: Environmental Science: Geographical information systems

What is GIS?

A geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software and data to capture, manage, analyse and display all forms of spatial data and imagery. GIS can be used to support decision making, in addition to visualising spatial data. Common types of analysis include:

Location, quantity and density of features
Spatial relationships and patterns
Temporal change

What is GIS? (Youtube, 1m:2s) - this video provides a brief introduction to GIS.

GIS resources

GIS software
GIS software available on library computers and open access software.
GIS data sources
Spatial data is available in a variety of formats from numerous publishers, including government, academic and corporate organisations. This links to key sources of local, national and global spatial data.
Geographical information systems (GIS) library guide
More information and resources for GIS.
Library training sessions on QGIS
QGIS is an open source GIS that can be used to transform, visualise, analyse and publish spatial data. Sign up to a class which introduces you to this software.

Software

Marxan - conservation planning software
Marxan is freely available conservation planning software. It provides decision support to a range of conservation planning problems, including the design of new reserve systems, reporting on the performance of existing reserve systems, and developing multiple-use zoning plans for natural resource management.