Page 217 - DMGT505_MANAGEMENT_INFORMATION_SYSTEM

Management Information Systems

Notes  Visual Analysis
 Improve Organizational Integration
Planning of Project

Advantage of GIS is often found in detailed planning of project having a large spatial component,
where analysis of the problem is a pre requisite at the start of the project. Thematic maps
generation is possible on one or more than one base maps.

Example: The generation of a land use map on the basis of a soil composition, vegetation
and topography.
The unique combination of certain features facilitates the creation of such thematic maps. With
the various modules within GIS it is possible to calculate surface, length, width and distance.
Making Decisions

The adage “better information leads to better decisions” is as true for GIS as it is for other
information systems. A GIS, however, is not an automated decision making system but a tool to
query, analyze, and map data in support of the decision making process. GIS technology has
been used to assist in tasks such as presenting information at planning inquiries, helping resolve
territorial disputes, and siting pylons in such a way as to minimize visual intrusion.

Visual Analysis

Digital Terrain Modeling (DTM) is an important utility of GIS. Using DTM/3D modeling,
landscape can be better visualized, leading to a better understanding of certain relations in the
landscape. Many relevant calculations, such as (potential) lakes and water volumes, soil erosion
volume (Example: landslides), quantities of earth to be moved (channels, dams, roads,
embankments, land leveling) and hydrological modeling becomes easier.
Not only in the previously mentioned fields but also in the social sciences GIS can prove
extremely useful. Besides the process of formulating scenarios for an Environmental Impact
Assessment, GIS can be a valuable tool for sociologists to analyze administrative data such as
population distribution, market localization and other related features.

Improving Organizational Integration

Many organizations that have implemented a GIS have found that one of its main benefits is
improved management of their own organization and resources. Because GIS has the ability to
link data sets together by geography, it facilitates interdepartmental information sharing and
communication. By creating a shared database one department can benefit from the work of
another—data can be collected once and used many times.
As communication increases among individuals and departments, redundancy is reduced,
productivity is enhanced, and overall organizational efficiency is improved. Thus, in a utility
company the customer and infrastructure databases can be integrated so that when there is
planned maintenance, affected people can be informed by computer generated letters.
10.5.4 Applications of GIS

Computerized mapping and spatial analysis have been developed simultaneously in several
related fields. The present status would not have been achieved without close interaction between
various fields such as utility networks, cadastral mapping, topographic mapping, thematic

212 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY