Guidance: This chapter presents some of the most fundamental yet crucial concepts in Geographic Information Systems, including information, data, information systems, spatial data, spatial information, and Geographic Information Systems. Some concepts, such as spatial information and spatial data, will be further elaborated upon. In fact, spatial data also serves as the core of the GIS functionalities described in this book.
GIS is not only a technology, but also a discipline, this chapter also introduces its main research contents and the relationship with other disciplines, such as geography, cartography, remote sensing, etc.
This chapter also introduces the composition, classification, function, development history and prospect of GIS, which will be described in more detail in the following chapters.