Introduction to Applied Information Systems

The solution to any problem is only as good as the available input

information, which is why one of the most fundamentally useful
applications of ArcGIS is a geospatial data management tool. An
Information System is an ordered collection of geospatial and tabulated
data, organized in such a way that the information may be readily stored,
retrieved and analyzed.
Information systems are data models that are
stored and organized in ArcGIS using one or
more geodatabases. Geodatabases provide an
elegant yet generic spatial database framework
that may be constructed by importing various
sources and types of spatial data into a single
database model. The biggest benefit of the
geodatabase over traditional data storage
formats is its ability to store numerous types of
geospatial data including points, lines, polygons
and pixilated geospatial files types with
associated tabulated attributes.
Information
within a geodatabase is also networked together
so that relationships between various spatial
features may be established. For instance, the
ArcHydro Geodatabase data model (discussed
in Chapter 6) inherently links the information
attributed to a reservoir outlet point with all of its
contributing drainage areas information.
Within the natural sciences and civil engineering
there are numerous examples where it is useful
to catalog all available geospatial data within an
information
system
before
performing
environmental modeling and geospatial analysis.
The geodatabase may be scaled to fit the needs of
any number of custom information systems,
examples include: Hydrologic Information System

The Geodatabase data model forms the

backbone of a information system.
Figure from What is ArcGIS?.

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CHAPTER 1: Applied Information Systems

(HIS), Environmental Information System (EIS), Business Information

System (BIS) and Governmental Information Systems (GIS) as described
in the figures below.
Hydrologic Information Systems
A hydrologic information systems is a collection of
time series and geospatial data that may be
required to perform hydrologic and hydraulic
analysis. Arc Hydro is the premiere HIS data
model that may be used to store and manage all
of the important information related to a drainage
basins hydrography, drainage characteristics,
channels, stream network and time series
information.
Hydrologic and hydraulic model
specific HIS have also been developed for HECHMS and HEC-RAS respectively. See Chapter 6
for a detailed discussion hydrologic Information
systems.

o Hydrology Information
o Hydraulics Information
o Reservoir and Stream
Connectivity
o Time Series

Environmental Information Systems

Environmental information systems are similar
to HIS except that information related to
environmental modeling is stored.
SWAT
Hydro is one such environmental information
system that comprehensively stores all of the
information specific to the SWAT (Soil and
Water Assessment Tool) environmental model.
o Pollutant Sources Inventory
o Pollutant Control Inventory
o Stream Networks

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CHAPTER 1: Applied Information Systems

The development of an information system is an important first step in

confronting any complex geospatial analysis. For instance, a local city
government facing an aging system of roads, bridges, sewers, and other
public resources that are in need of maintenance, may need to develop an
infrastructure maintenance master plan. A savvy master plan may be
developed from a custom information system by compiling all available
information into an organized geospatial cataloging system of
geodatabase(s) that may then be used to efficiently identify and analyze
areas of concern.
A possible version of this information system is
illustrated below. See Chapter Two for a more detailed discussion of
geodatabases and database models, and Chapter Six for more
information on developing a custom hydrologic information system.
Suffice it to say that there are no limits to the type and number of custom
information systems that may be developed to address any number of
complex geospatial problems.

Geodatabases may be readily customized to manage

information for a variety of concerns. For instance, a
city government may want to develop a master planning
information system as depicted above.
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CHAPTER 1: Applied Information Systems