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Introduction to Geographic Information Systems with Data Files CD-ROM
This book is designed to provide students in a first or second GIS course with a solid foundation in both GIS concepts and the use of GIS. Introduction to GIS strikes a careful balance between GIS concepts and hands-on applications. The main portion of the chapter presents GIS terms and concepts and helps students learn how each one fits into a complete GIS system. At the end of each chapter, an application section with 3-5 tasks presents students with actual GIS exercises and the necessary data to solve the problem.
464 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 8, 2019
Dry. Expensive. Marginally useful.
My main complaint about Introduction to Geographic Information Systems is it's about the driest textbook I have ever read, and I have read hundreds throughout my undergrad and grad degrees. It is essentially a reference book organized like a textbook. Chang has no style to his writing. Every section is written like a dictionary entry. Every sentence follows a straight-forward structure. If AI had written a textbook on GIS and was given a dictionary as the only reference for how human speech and sentence-structure are patterned, it would very much resemble this book. As much as I love the written word, I'm not sure a book is the best way to present this material. A series of videos might be a better way of communicating GIS, which, after all, is a visual tool.
I give the book two stars rather than one because I think to certain users it probably is a helpful book. It appears to cover every aspect of GIS, even if not in the most compelling manner. If you were a semi-experienced GIS professional, having this book as a reference may be handy. Having said that, for a book with "Introduction" in its title, you're expected to have substantial background knowledge, especially in geography. Between this and the dry style, Chang doesn't show much empathy for his readers.
This review wouldn't be complete without mentioning the price and format of the book. I realize this is left up to the publisher, but this is a clear case of gouging customers because they need it for a professional course. The textbook costs $222 on Amazon for the ebook, only slightly cheaper than the list price for the hardcover of $229. The rental is $75. I was able to get a five-year rental ebook for my course for $40, which was more reasonable, but you can only print two pages at a time, and the formatting is terrible. No color. Figures are disconnected from the reference text. Clearly they just took the hardcover version's word-processor document and uploaded it as an ebook with no thought to presentation, apparently as a punishment for renting the book instead of buying the most expensive version.
My main complaint about Introduction to Geographic Information Systems is it's about the driest textbook I have ever read, and I have read hundreds throughout my undergrad and grad degrees. It is essentially a reference book organized like a textbook. Chang has no style to his writing. Every section is written like a dictionary entry. Every sentence follows a straight-forward structure. If AI had written a textbook on GIS and was given a dictionary as the only reference for how human speech and sentence-structure are patterned, it would very much resemble this book. As much as I love the written word, I'm not sure a book is the best way to present this material. A series of videos might be a better way of communicating GIS, which, after all, is a visual tool.
I give the book two stars rather than one because I think to certain users it probably is a helpful book. It appears to cover every aspect of GIS, even if not in the most compelling manner. If you were a semi-experienced GIS professional, having this book as a reference may be handy. Having said that, for a book with "Introduction" in its title, you're expected to have substantial background knowledge, especially in geography. Between this and the dry style, Chang doesn't show much empathy for his readers.
This review wouldn't be complete without mentioning the price and format of the book. I realize this is left up to the publisher, but this is a clear case of gouging customers because they need it for a professional course. The textbook costs $222 on Amazon for the ebook, only slightly cheaper than the list price for the hardcover of $229. The rental is $75. I was able to get a five-year rental ebook for my course for $40, which was more reasonable, but you can only print two pages at a time, and the formatting is terrible. No color. Figures are disconnected from the reference text. Clearly they just took the hardcover version's word-processor document and uploaded it as an ebook with no thought to presentation, apparently as a punishment for renting the book instead of buying the most expensive version.
January 5, 2018
Would not recommend
March 30, 2021
Osom book
June 26, 2025
Great textbook!!
July 30, 2010
Quite an informative text for anyone wanting to aquire an in-depth knowledge of geographic information systems and its varying applications. I'm utilising it as an on-going reference.
July 30, 2013
Highly informative, comprehensive, and easy to follow.
Read
September 12, 2013f0r university
September 22, 2015
good book...good information
Want to read
May 14, 2014nice book
Read
September 3, 2014jshdbcjshc\shbc
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews