Geographical Information Systems

(GIS) Principles
Wim Devos
www.jrc.ec.europa.eu

Wim Devos

Serving society
Stimulating innovation
Supporting legislation
Outline
Introduction to GIS
Coordinates: SRS-CRS
Spatial data and formats
Data, maps and scales
Spatial databases
Integration of spatial information
GIS programs and functionality
GIS in the CAP information management
GIS trends and future
INSPIRE
Definition

GIS =
computer-based information systems for
Management
Analysis
Visualization
of geographical (spatial) data
 Introduction to GIS (2)

GIS is NOT (only) Computer Cartography

GIS has a data-centered approach
map = representation of spatial data
not a simple drawing
Spatial data relate to a position/space on earth or in
space
either by description: BRU L170
or by having coordinates: 31 U 596892 E 5633386 h 64
GIS processes coordinates
SPATIAL REFERENCE SYSTEM 1

DATUMS: define location

a "geodetic datum" is defined by
size and shape of ellipsode (a en 1/f)
location of the ellipsode relative to the
centre of gravity (X, Y, Z)
orientation of the 3 major Axes relative
to a reference system fixed to earth :
X,,Y,Z
scale factor S

national datums: Horizontal (xy) en Vertical (h)

Some geodetic datums and ellipsoids

Geodetic Datum Ellipsoid a 1/f

Belgian Hayford 6378388.0 297

WGS84 WGS84 6378137.0 298.257223563
ETRS89 IAG GRS 1980 6378137.0 298.257222101
SPATIAL REFERENCE SYSTEM 2

PLANAR COORDINATES; CRS

from projecting the earths 3D
surface to a 2D plane CRS
Always creating distortions so
projection systems
Conformal (respect angles)
Equidistant (respect scale)
Equal area (respect areas)
NOTE Geographic GRID
coordinates (longitude,
latitude) are also in a
particular CRS
Some CRS
CRS Datum Type coverage

UTM1-UTM60 WGS84 Cylindrical, conformal world

Lambert II Nouvelle Triangulation Francaise Conical conformal Central France
Eurolambert European Datum 1950 Conical conformal National France
SPATIAL REFERENCE SYSTEM 3

SRS knowledge is critical for coordination or database

integration, e.g.
GPS: is raw WGS84
Google Earth: uses UTM/geographic
LPIS will always be in national CRS (MS know only theirs!)
E.g orthorectification of VHR involves 4 data sets
(map/DEM/GCP/raw image)

To document SRS
INSPIRE and GML: document via EPSG-code
Or ArcINFO: WKT *.prj (Well Known Text)
Nice tool: http://prj2epsg.org/search

Many online coordinate conversion tools national

CRS><UTM
http://www.crs-geo.eu
http://www.catco.fr/outils/catcoconv/CatcoConv_FR.asp
Vector Data Types
the easy past:
Points
e.g. settlements

Lines
e.g. rivers

Polygons
e.g. cadastral parcels

2013: called simple features : GM_point,

GM_polyline, GM_polygon
 Raster Data Types
Image data
e.g. orthorectified
satellite images,
sensed value
spectral intensity,
vibration, elapsed time
Gridded data
e.g. digital elevation
models
categorical information
derived information

2013: many representations and formats

Vector vs Raster

Vector data
Shapefile (*.shp, *.dbf, *.shx)
ArcInfo Coverage

EC- exchange: Geographic Markup Language GML

Raster Data
formats: JPEG2000, TIFF (*.tif)
several proprietary formats of platforms

CID- exchange:
Geotiff/ Tiff with wkt.prj
ECW (Enhanced Compression Wavelet)
Erdas HFA (Hierarchical File Architecture )
Maps scale vs data accuracy

Spatial data have no scale but a certain positional accuracy

e.g.: well know points
(0.1-0.2mm x paper map scale) + digitizing error

Spatial data have a scale range for appropriate map display

Beware:
small scale large scale
1:10000000 1:1000
large territory small territory
Map scales

Italy: Provinces
Scale 1:2000000

Province: Communes
Scale 1:100000

Communes: Cadastre
Scale 1:5000
Spatial Databases

Spatial data contain geometry AND attribute

information

Classical approach: file-based databases (e.g.

shapefiles, coverages)
Modern approach: business databases with spatial
extension (e.g. Oracle Spatial, Esri SDE, PostGIS,
Postgresql for JRC LPISQA portal)

To exchange data between databases:

attribute tables: XML (Extensible Markup Language)
spatial tables: GML (i.e. XML dialect for SRS+
coordinates)
 Spatial Databases (2)

There is an obvious connection

between geometry and
attribute information in spatial
databases (e.g. ArcView GIS)
Integration of Spatial Information

Integration of GPS measurements

Spatial datasets (raster and vector) can be
combined for analysis and map overlay

Data typically loaded in GIS

programs as thematic LAYERS
(= themes)

Note: layers are just implementation , should

never be considered conceptually
Layer overlay

Orthophoto

Cadastral Parcels
Roads
Rivers
GIS software
Many variables
Non-european >< non-european
Open source >< proprietary
Desktop >< server-client.
A dominant player for our community = ESRI with
ArcView, ArcGIS, ArcMap
Take a pick:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_geographic_in
formation_systems_software

For LPIS + IACS: SW must be customized

GIS Functionality 1

Display of data
(ex. ArcView)

Note: all display except pen plotter is raster!

GIS Functionality 2
Interactive
data query
(ex. ArcView)
 GIS Functionality 3
Data management
(ex. ArcInfo)
Digitize new features
Modify existing data
Advantages of GIS in the CAP for
information management
1. extends alphanumeric databases with a geographical
(spatial) component
2. combines agricultural parcels and images (airborne
or satellite)
3. allows parcel identification and locating
4. serves area measurements
5. enables spatial analysis (overlay, vicinity, distance)
6. enables spatial query (what is there?)

GIS enables other ways to collect/process data

Advantages of GIS in the CAP (2)
Control with remote sensing
GIS Trends and Future

WebGIS: GIS in browsers

gradually replacing desktop GIS for
browsing and querying of spatial data
public access to geo-data
Crowd sourcing (google earth)

OGC (open geospatial consortium): Integration from

different sources via open standards
TC211/ISO19100 series

MobileGIS: GIS on hand-held

devices, cellular phones
Apps could be the future!

INSPIRE: European GIS legislation

Online LPIS viewers
BE-Fl: https://www.landbouwvlaanderen.be/Default.aspx (select oefen
e-loket and login in > Een aanvraag invullen > Verzamelaanvraag >
via kaart)
CZ: http://eagri.cz/public/app/lpisext/lpis/verejny/
EE: https://kls.eesti.ee/pria_avalik_kaart/ (select the Kaardikihid tab)
ES: http://sigpac.mapa.es/fega/visor/
FR: http://www.geoportail.fr/visu2D.do?ter=metropole (select usages
des sols > ilots de 200x)
HU: http://www.mepar.hu/ (select the tab "Belps a MePAR
bngszbe", select an area> select an item> tick Blokk2010)
SI: http://rkg.gov.si/GERK/viewer.jsp
DE-NS http://www.lwk-
niedersachsen.de/index.cfm/portal/36/nav/0/article/8728.html
DE-SH http://141.91.150.41/feldblockfinder/script/index.php?nutzer=fbf
SK: http://www.podnemapy.sk/lpis_verejnost/viewer.htm

Candidate Countries:
HR: http://preglednik.arkod.hr/ARKOD-Web
MK: http://www.sizp.gov.mk/SIZP-Web
INSPIRE

Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of

the Council of 14 March 2007 establishing an
Infrastructure for Spatial Information in the European
Community (INSPIRE) 14.03.2007

http://inspire.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
http://eur-
lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32007L
0002:EN:NOT
provisions
INSPIRE lays down general rules to establish an
infrastructure for spatial information in Europe for the
purposes of Community environmental policies and
policies or activities which may have an impact
on the environment.
SMR, GAEC and AEM!!

This infrastructure shall build upon infrastructures for

spatial information established and operated by the
Member States:
INSPIRE does not require collection of new spatial
data electronic format
INSPIRE does not affect Intellectual Property Rights
Implementation phase completes by 2013
Relevant data
From whom? - Spatial data held by or on behalf of a
public authority operating down to the lowest level of
government when laws or regulations require their
collection or dissemination

What content? - INSPIRE covers 34 Spatial Data

Themes laid down in 3 Annexes (required to
successfully build environmental information
systems)

1 June 2017 27
Data scope 1
Annex I Annex II
1. Coordinate reference 1. Elevation
systems 2. Land cover
2. Geographical grid systems 3. Ortho-imagery
3. Geographical names 4. Geology
4. Administrative units
5. Addresses
6. Cadastral parcels
7. Transport networks
8. Hydrography
9. Protected sites

Harmonised spatial data specifications more

stringent for Annex I and II than for Annex III
Data scope 2
Annex III 11. Area
1. Statistical units management/restriction
2. Buildings /regulation zones &
3. Soil reporting units
4. Land use 12. Natural risk zones
5. Human health and 13. Atmospheric conditions
safety 14. Meteorological
6. Utility and geographical features
governmental services 15. Oceanographic
7. Environmental geographical features
monitoring facilities 16. Sea regions
8. Production and 17. Bio-geographical regions
industrial facilities 18. Habitats and biotopes
9. Agricultural and 19. Species distribution
aquaculture facilities 20. Energy Resources
10.Population distribution 21. Mineral resources
demography
Components
1. Metadata
MS shall create metadata and keep them up to date
2. Interoperability of spatial data sets and services
Rules for interoperability and where practical for harmonisation of
spatial data sets and services
3. Network services
MS shall operate discovery, view, download, transformation and invoke
services
4. Data and Service sharing (policy)
5. Coordination and measures for Monitoring &
Reporting

INSPIRE is a Framework Directive, detailed technical

provisions for the issues above laid down in
Implementing Rules (IR)
Data and service sharing
1. without use restrictions between public authorities
for public tasks relating to the environment
2. charging and licensing to each other and to
Community institutions shall not create an
obstacle
3. no charging to Community institutions for
reporting obligations under Community law
relating to the environment
4. in accordance with harmonised conditions.
INSPIRE and LPIS
LPIS is an operational, regulatory based, EU wide dataset, a large scale,
parcel-based register with land use and land cover data, predating
INSPIRE
BUT not an explicit INSPIRE annex theme / DS2.3 dataset on itself,
despite many dependencies on INSPIRE themes:
1. cadastre, topography, land cover Reference Parcel
2. land use, orthophotos Agricultural Parcel
3. soil data, elevation, hydrology, restriction/regulation zones
cross-compliance
green payment

CONCLUSION
Synergy from technology, harmonisation and access
MS CAP administrations should be the prime beneficiary of INSPIRE
Since 2011: weekly requests for pan-European access to LPIS
audits anno 2013?

geocoded photographs tracks of GNSS remeasurement

Overall conclusion

GIS:
is a well documented concept
offers clear benefits
covers a wide range of application fields
is supported by very dynamic technology
has many market players
became highly standardized (including specific EU
legislation)
Coincidence it is in art 17 of Council Regulation (EC)
no 73/2009?
Shouldnt it be more common in DGAgri operations?