Text 1. General characteristic of gis

Geography is an information about the Earth’s surface and the objects found on it as well as a framework for organizing knowledge.

GIS is a technology that is used to view and analyze data from a geographic perspective. GIS links location to information (people to addresses, buildings to parcels or streets) and manipulate with this information to give you better understanding of how it all interrelates.

The information systems used to ensure effective processing of the object information in the territory are called geoinformation systems (GIS).

Thus GIS is intended to provide storage, search and manipulation of the data about the territorial objects.

GIS is comprised of three parts: spatial information, special software and a computer. These components work together to provide a digital platform for viewing and processing layers of spatial information.

GIS assembles information from several sources including ground surveys existing maps, aerial photos and satellite imagery. In GIS specific information about a place, such as the locations of utility lines, roads, streams, buildings and even trees and animal populations is layered over a set of geodetic data. Using special software, regional planners and scientists can examine the layers individually or in various combinations to improve traffic flow, merge constructions with utility systems, develop around environmentally sensitive areas and protect the public from potential natural disasters. Because GIS stores data digitally, information can be quickly and economically updated, easily reproduced and made widely available.

GIS technology is doing most of the cartographic (mapmaking) work. GIS is mostly associated with maps. A map is only one of three ways. GIS can use to WORK with geographic information. These three ways are:

1) The Database view: GIS is a unique kind of database of the WORLD - a geographic database (geodatabase). It is an information System for geography. Fundamentally, GIS is based on a structured database that describes the world in geographic terms.

2) The Map View: GIS is a set of intelligent maps. Views that show features and feature relationship on the earth's surface. Maps can be constructed and used as «Windows into the database» to support analysis and editing of information. This is called geovisualization.

3) The Model View: GIS is a set of information transformation tools that derive new geographic datasets from existing datasets. These geoprocessing functions take information from existing datasets, apply analytic functions, and write results into new derived datasets. Together, these three views are critical parts of GIS and are used in all GIS applications.

The most important element needed to reconstruct geographic reality in GIS is good spatial information. If the spatial information provided to GIS is sparse or of poor resolution, then the world created by the computer will be a lifeless digital shell — a sharp contrast to the complexity of our living Earth.

Exercise 2. Look through the words and try to remember their meaning:

to provide storage —забезпечувати збереження

to process data —обробляти дані

to improve —поліпшувати

to merge —поєднувати

to analyze data —аналізувати дані

to apply —застосовувати

to ensure processing —забезпечувати обробку

geographic perspective —географічна перспективи

spatial information —просторова інформація

intelligent maps —розумні карти

digital platform —цифрова база (основа)

geovisualization —геоуявлення

derived datasets —одержані набори данних

components —складові частини

sparse —розсіяний

Exercise 3. Answer the following questions:

1. What is GIS?

2. Why is the information system used to?

3. What is GIS intended to?

4. How many and what parts is GIS comprised of?

5. Where does GIS assemble information from?

6. Where can GIS technologies be used most of all?

7. What is the first of three ways using GIS?

8. What process is geovisualization called?

9. What is the most important element needed to reconstruct geographic reality in a GIS?

Exercise 4. Translate the following word combinations:

geographic perspective, effective processing, territorial objects, spatial information, digital platform, aerial photos, satellite imagery, utility lines, animal populations, traffic flow, environmentally sensitive areas, natural disasters, intelligent maps, geographic reality, a lifeless digital shell.

Exercise 5. Complete the following chart:

Verb	Noun	Adjective
to understand		understandable
to ensure
to improve
to protect	protection
to construct
to reach

Exercise 6. Look through the following verb forms and define the tense, write the infinitive of the verb:

is used, are called, assembles, can examine, stores, is doing, are, is based, will be, are used.

Exercise 7. Put verbs in the brackets in the correct form:

1. GIS _______ (to be) a technology that ______ (to be) used to view and analyze data from a geographic perspective.

2. GIS ________ (to link) location to information (people to addresses, buildings to parcels or streets) and manipulate with this information to give you better understanding of how it all interrelates.

3. GIS __________ (to assemble) information from a several sources including ground surveys existing maps, aerial photos and satellite imagery.

4. GIS technology___(to do) most of the cartographic (mapmaking) work.

5. Maps can__________ (to construct) and (to use) as «Windows into the database» to support analysis and editing of information.

6. The most important element needed to reconstruct geographic reality in GIS _______ (to be) good spatial information

Exercise 8. Read and translate the text.