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Methods Background Starting out with GIS NEW GIS manual form Forsyth et al NEW Download Neville Owen's GIS talk presented in Switzerland Sept 2005. One of the most daunting parts of environmental research can be learning about Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Census data. GIS is computer software that links geographic information (where things are) with descriptive information (what things are like). Unlike a flat paper map, where "what you see is what you get," GIS can have many layers of information. Each country, in fact each city, will have different databases with varying levels of detail. You need to find not only a technical GIS expert in your region but someone who can help make sense of this data in the context of urban and transport planning. The NQLS and PLACE projects employed Lawrence Frank & Company Inc. Please contact Larry and mention that you are an IPEN member for more information. Arc View is useful software for working with GIS data. There are many resources and tutorials for this that are a good place to start. The following are useful web links to help get you started. www.gis.rgs.org/whatisgis.html www.mapcruzin.com/what-is-gis.htm www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0130460273/103-0572758-5076630 www.activelivingresearch.org/downloads/rodriguezfrank.pdf www.activelivingresearch.org/downloads/forsyththursday.pdf www.fhwa.dot.gov/tfhrc/safety/pubs/vol2/sec2.18.htm Examples of GIS maps: Other Methods Backgrounds
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