The Basics of Geographical Information Systems

     The following pages provide a basic review of what GIS actually is. These pages roughly correspond to portions of my master's thesis which outline common structures and functions of GIS software. Essentially, I classify three levels of GIS discussion: low, mid, and high.

     Low level discussions focus on the two data structures used by GIS: vector and raster. Mid level look at the actual organizational scheme used to manage data within the GIS. High level discussions center on using GIS software to complete complex analytical functions such as calculating viewsheds or least-cost pathways (these terms will be discussed later in this section and in several of the tutorials as they come online).

     Perhaps the most important lesson I learned while working on my master's thesis and this website can be summed up in just four words that state how archaeological GIS should be designed: accessible, integratable, updatable, and documentable. In other words, a GIS (archaeological or otherwise) should be designed for use by multiple people. These systems should also be designed to integrate with other types of data (e.g. environmental data like soil types); and allow for quick incorporation of future research. Finally, the systems and their design require supporting documentation to facilitate proper maintenance.

     This section, like the entire website, is written in a relatively simple manner. I believe that basic GIS theory is easily accesible by most, with proper instruction. Citations in the following sections can be found here (pdf version of my Master's bibliography).