Roger tomlinson s pioneering work to initiate, plan, and develop the canada geographic information system resulted in the first computerized gis in the world in 1963. The five parts of a gis include hardware, software, data, procedures, and people. The gis software makes it possible to synthesize large. By combining in an interactive map not just topographic features, but other data that can. He developed a methodology that has evolved over the years, and he continues to adapt it through his personal consultation.
A geographic information system combines computer cartography with a database management system. The second edition of thinking about gis details a planning model developed for designing data and technology systems that will meet an organizations specific needs, whether its an enterprisewide gis or a singleshop launch. System design process gis wiki the gis encyclopedia. This software had the capacity to overlay, measurement and digitizing converting scan hardcopy map to digital data. Perhaps youre an old school paleogeographer and prefer a classical definition. Geographic information system planning for managers paperback june 1, 2007 by roger tomlinson author. A geographic information system is not only about computers, software, and electronic data. Because of roger tomlinsons seminal contribution to the. He is the visionary geographer who conceived and developed. So, like i said, this is a definition based on what a gis can do. Gis tools are used to gather and analyze data about the surface of the earth. Gis history roger tomlinson drives the creation of the canada geographic information system cgis in 1964 o first national gis system land use and natural resource inventory system o lunr, new york 1967 minnesota land management system o mlmis, minnesota 1969 arc info introduced in 1981 o first major commercial gis venture 2172017 7eetr. Roger tomlinson created the first computerized geographic information system in the 1960s while working for the canadian government. Ian mcharg the first generally recognized gis was the cgis or canada geographic information system, developed under roger tomlinson beginning in 1964.
A geographic information system gis is a conceptualized framework, that provides the ability to capture and analyze, spatial and geographic data. Jul 12, 2017 the late roger tomlinson is considered the father of geographic information systems and he completed his phd in the ucl department of geography in 1974. In 1968, a man by the name of roger tomlinson started piecing together modern computing with maps. Tomlinson had also presented a paper entitled, computer mapping. Jun 02, 2014 the unlikely history of the origins of modern maps gis technology has opened up new channels of understanding how the world works. An english geographer, tomlinson was a central figure in the development of gis.
His early work fifty years ago with the canada land inventory cli in 1962 is widely recognized as the beginnings of gis. Dr roger tomlinson father of gis provides an excellent book that shares a proven framework for comprehensive gis planning called thinking about gis. Roger tomlinson feasibility report of computer mapping system. For a number of years, roger tomlinson has been advocating that one of the key ingredients to successful geographic information systems gis is the use of a consistent planning methodology. Roger tomlinson develops the first true operational geographic. Gis an introduction to the use of electronic computers in the storage, compilation and assessment of natural and economic data for the evaluation of marginal lands, 1962, by roger tomlinson pdf this is the paper that started the work on gis in the government of canada. It was called the canada geographic information system cgis and was used to store, analyze, and manipulate data collected for the canada land inventory cli.
Roger tomlinson, also known as the father of gis, is famed for. Gis is a tool that can access, integrate, and distribute layers of map information. They were developed so that issues specific to giss were formally addressed. A geographic information system gis is a computer system that analyzes and displays geographically referenced information. Roger tomlinson can forever be remembered as the father of gis. Roger tomlinson taught us how to solve such puzzles. Mar 02, 2014 roger tomlinson taught us how to solve such puzzles. Tomlinson was a pioneer in the field of geographic information systems. Geographic information system definition spatial post. He was recently promoted to officer of the order of canada. Lecture 1 intro to gis and gis vector and raster data models. This page is provided by dave peters in memory of a very dear friend, roger tomlinson. Roger tomlinson, the father of computerized cartography.
Gis is an organized collection of software, hardware, data, people, and methods. Tomlinson has been called the father of the worlds first geographic information system gis, a method of. Targeting those charged with launching or implementing a geograph. The data can be used to create charts, maps, and 3d models of the earths surface. Tomlinson defines gis in terms of its components that form part of a model. Tomlinson, oc 17 november 1933 7 february 2014 was an english geographer. His career focused on the development of major international gis programs, ranging widely in. The first conference dealing with gis took place in 1970 and was organized by roger tomlinson key individual in the development of cgis and duane marble professor at northwestern university and early gis innovator. Roger tomlinson wrote this book for those two kinds of managers, intending to bridge the communication. Technically, a gis is a system that includes mapping software and its application to remote sensing, land surveying, aerial photography, mathematics, photogrammetry, geography, and tools that can be implemented with gis. So roger tomlinson wrote a report that described what he proposed as a new computer system. Figure 2f1 describes some of the major components common to a gis. Roger tomlinson, often referred to as the father of gis was born in. The truth is, millions of people use gis, and there are almost as.
Targeted at those who have been charged with launching or implementing a geographic information system for their organization, this book details a practical method for planning a gis that has proven successful in real public and private sector organizations, including a local government, a transportation authority, a forest management agency, a retail business, a political party, and a farm. Oct 02, 2017 roger tomlinson can forever be remembered as the father of gis. Father of gis, roger tomlinson no more geospatial world. Roger tomlinson, often referred to as the father of gis was born in cambridge, england in 1933, and received degrees in geography from nottingham university in england and mcgill university in montreal, and a phd from university college in london. Tomlinson has been called the father of the worlds first geographic information system gis, a method of computerized mapmaking that he pioneered in the 1960s. Understanding the information products you want out of the gis and identifying the software candidates you might use to produce these information products is a prerequisite for completing your. Tomlinson conceptualized combining land use mapping with emerging computer technology. Today, numerous conferences dealing with gis run every year attracting thousands of attendants. While the term gis will be used in this chapter in the broad sense implied by the definition above, several other terms are also in active use. It is an initiative to determine the land capability for rural canada by mapping. The late roger tomlinson is considered the father of geographic information systems and he completed his phd in the ucl department of geography in 1974. So, those are basically all the things that roger tomlinson described when he was coming up with the computer system for the canada land inventory and they still apply today. Most of the information we have about our world contains a location reference. The development of computerbased geographic information systems gis began in the 1960s with the work of roger tomlinson in canada.
This diagram suggests that a gis consists of three subsystems. An account is given of the military, government, and academic antecedents that preceded the formal development of gis in terms of software, hardware, and conceptual developments. Tomlinson was known as a visionary geographer who conceived and developed gis for use by the canada land inventory. This began the process of moving gis from the research department into the business environment. Born in england, he settled in canada after military service and university, where his work in geomorphology led to applying computerized methods for. Tomlinson pioneered digital mapping every map created using a computer today still uses the principles he laid down in his thesis and its associated work creating the the canada geographic information system. The phrase, geographic information system, was coined by roger tomlinson in 1968, when he published the scientific paper, a geographic information system for regional planning. Father of gis wikipedia article on canada geographic informatio system. And it began when a young roger tomlinsonand others. Tomlinson was a visionary geographer known worldwide. Tomlinson, gisp, cm, 17 november 1933 9 february 2014 was an english geographer and the primary originator of modern computerized geographic information systems gis, and has been acknowledged as the father of gis. Roger tomlinson develops the first true operational geographic information.
Tomlinson is also acknowledged as the father of gis 8. Users could publish digital maps on the web using gis software with greater interactivity and performance. Roger tomlinson, trained as a geographer and with a background of employment in the aerial surveying industry, recognized that the program would require estimates of. Users could get directions, but it was slow to load 3rd generation. Foreword for a number of years, roger tomlinson has been advocating that one of the key ingredients to successful geographic information systems gis is the use of a consistent planning methodology. Feb 17, 2017 gis history roger tomlinson drives the creation of the canada geographic information system cgis in 1964 o first national gis system land use and natural resource inventory system o lunr, new york 1967 minnesota land management system o mlmis, minnesota 1969 arc info introduced in 1981 o first major commercial gis venture 2172017 7eetr. Who coined the phrase geographic information system. Roger tomlinson 19332014 is generally recognized as the father of gis. Before attending university, he served in the royal air force from 195154 as a pilot and flying officer. Tomlinson, gisp, cm, 17 november 1933 9 february 2014 was an english geographer and the primary originator of modern computerized geographic information systems gis, and has been acknowledged as the father of gis dr. It uses data that is attached to a unique location.
History of gis early history and the future of gis esri. A geographic information system gis can be defined as a computer application capable. The gis community is experiencing profound sadness today as it learns of the death of roger tomlinson. The system, which was completed by 1971, was used for surveying potential agricultural lands in canada. The purpose was to analyze geographic data over any part of canada. Roger tomlinson, also known as the father of gis, is famed for being a pioneer in the field of geographic information system gis. In fact, he first coined the term gis in his paper a geographic information system for regional planning. Definitions of gis and gi science what is a geographical. Mar 23, 2015 definition of gis gis is a configuration of computer hardware and software specifically designed for the acquisition, maintenance and use of cartographic data tomlin,1990 a geographic information system gis is a computerbased tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on earth. Tomlinson pioneered digital mapping every map created using a computer today still uses the principles he laid down in his thesis and its associated work creating the the canada. Gis moved from being a desktop software, to be a server based, to web gis and now to mobile gis.
And roger tomlinson recognized that and wondered if there was a way that he could use computers to solve this mapping problem that he was having. Gis applications or gis apps are computerbased tools, that allow the user to create interactive queries usercreated searches, analyze spatial information output, edit datum presented within maps, and visually share the results of these. Gis has become widely known and nowadays is used in many industries that have incorporated location as part of their daily business. Spatial data is a term with special meaning in gis. The first design methodology specifically for giss was presented in 1972 by roger tomlinson see figure 2.
Esri press thinking about gis geographic information. But, what made the change is the need for people to take advantage of the power of maps, the power of location intelligence, the power of geography. The first known use of the term geographic information system was by roger tomlinson in the year 1968 in his paper a geographic information system for regional planning. Roger tomlinson created and developed canadian geographic information system cgis to store, analyze and manipulate data that was collected for the canada land inventory cli. The unlikely history of the origins of modern maps gis technology has opened up new channels of understanding how the world works. Roger frank tomlinson, oc father of gis 17 nov 33 07 feb 14 dr. The canada geographic information system cgis, which was conceptualized in the early 1960s and became operational in 1972, as reported by tomlinson et al. Roger has brought great distinction to our field by defining the basic and. A computer software system with supporting hardware that manages data pertaining to land, water, and air resources, such that one can store and retrieve such geographic information as well as analyze stored information or additional parameters derived from stored information. For example, caliper corporation produced transcad, a software. Roger tomlinson was a central figure in the development of gis.
Tomlinson was a native of cambridge england and prior to attending university, he served in the royal air force. Roger tomlinson, father of gis gis wiki the gis encyclopedia. To start with a definition of gis, we can quote dr. Roger tomlinson, father of gis, has died gis lounge. Onboard a flight in 1961, roger tomlinson met lee pratt, the. So, gis is a computer system for capturing, storing, filtering, analyzing, visualizing, geospatial data. Targeted at two primary audiencessenior managers who oversee information technologies and the more technical specialists charged with designing the actual systemsthis. This includes hills, mountains, trees, buildings, streets, rivers, and pretty much anything else. Tomlinson, acknowledged as the father of gis, is credited with enabling the first computerizedgis to be created through his work on the canada geographic information system in 1963. Roger tomlinsons pioneering work to initiate, plan, and develop the canada geographic information system resulted in the first computerized gis in the world in 1963. Jan 24, 2017 the early days of gis were very lonely. Gis midterm intro and chapter 1 flashcards quizlet. Roger tomlinson is the author of thinking about gis 3.
A geographic information system gis, or geographical information system, is any system that captures, stores, analyzes, manages, and presents data that are linked to location. It was a serendipitous meeting on an airplane that launched what is now a. Tomlinson, oc 17 november 1933 7 february 2014 was an english geographer and the primary originator of modern computerised geographic information systems gis, and has been acknowledged as the father of gis. Gis software development has moved from mainframes, to mini computers, to unix systems, and, most recently, to the desktop and mobile environments. Tomlinsons canada geographic information system cgis was a mainframebased system that was primarily designed to inventory land use and related natural resources such as soils and timber 4. Whats wrong with just buying some computers and gis software, loading some.
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