You are not alone in the jungle of GIS! There are many organisations, publications and individuals who can help you understand its full potential. Here are a number of starting points:
Principles of Geographical Information Systems for Land Resources Assessment P.A. Burrough, Oxford, 193pp 1986 GBP 20 paper. A classic GIS text. It brings together the principles and applications of GIS and demonstrates its effective use.
GIS: Principles and Applications D.J. Maguire, M.F. Goodchild, and D. Rhind (Eds), Longman Vol. 1: 640pp Vol. 2: 416pp 1991 GBP137 cased. Known in the GIS community as "The Big Book", this two volume set is an excellent reference text covering the principles and practice of GIS world-wide. It discusses trends in GIS and reviews applications from around the world.
1994 International GIS Sourcebook GIS World, (Available through Longman in Europe) 691pp 1994 GBP115 cased. Contains a world-wide GIS market directory, an overview of the GIS business applications, a GIS glossary, data source directories and detailed fold-out charts comparing GIS packages.
1994 European GIS Yearbook P.J. Shand and P.J. Ireland (Eds), NCC Blackwell 472pp 1994 GBP 95 paper. This European directory guide to the GIS industry lists GIS product suppliers, services and information. It contains articles on pan-European issues, markets, technologies and includes country profiles.
Geographic Information 1994: The Sourcebook for GIS D.R. Green, D. Rix, and J. Cadoux Hudson (Eds),Taylor and Francis 539pp 1993 GBP 29.50 paper. This yearbook of the Association for Geographic Information (AGI), covers a range of topics from business to data, local government to technology. It also features directories detailing contacts in the GIS industry (mainly UK entries).
Bringing GIS into Business D. Grimshaw, Longman 288pp 1994 GBP17.99 paper. This book highlights the move of GIS into business assisting in business decision making and the supporting of organisational needs. It sets out the key management issues and details industry case studies where GIS has been implemented to assist business decisions.
Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation - 3rd edition T. Lillesand and R. Kiefer John Wiley 750pp 1994 GBP19.95 paper This book reviews the wide range of current remote-sensing applications. It also discusses the two- way relationship between remote sensing and GIS.
Introduction to Integrated Geo-Information Management S. Cassettari Chapman & Hall 272pp GBP19.95 paper A good easy to read introductory text which covers vital topics such as integrated information systems, the importance of management in implementation and the key role of spatial data.
GISTutor 2 (Computer aided learning software),GeoInformation International, GBP199 single user, Apple Macintosh or Microsoft Windows formats. A comprehensive software tutorial which makes use of graphics, sound and animation to illustrate the technology of GIS. Included with the software package is an invaluable quick reference A-Z guide to GIS. This book should be carried in the briefcase of every GISTutor 2 user.
Mapping Awareness Magazine, GeoInformation International, UK. Trade magazine for GIS and automated mapping in the UK, published ten times per year.
GIS Europe Magazine, Longman GeoInformation, UK. A sister magazine to Mapping Awareness, which covers strategic and Europe-wide issues on GIS. It is also published ten times per year.
GIS World Magazine, GIS World, Fort Collins, USA. Monthly magazine covering primarily US GIS issues.
Business Geographics Magazine, GIS World, Fort Collins, USA Sister magazine to GIS World covering US Business GIS issues, produced six times per year.
For complete listings of conferences and exhibitions being held world-wide, please refer to one of the following magazines GIS Europe, Mapping Awareness, GIS World or Business Geographics.
February GIS for Business, Europe
March AM/FM International Annual Conference, USA
March Asia GIS/LIS AM/FM and Spatial Analysis conference, Hong Kong
March CeBit, Hannover, Germany
March GIS in Business (SA), South Africa
March MARI, France
March/ April ASPRS/ACSM Annual Convention, USA
March/April Joint European conference and exhibition on Geographical Information, Europe
May Geotechnica: International trade fair and congress for geo-sciences and technology, Cologne, Germany
May GPS/GIS conference, USA
June GIS/LIS: Central Europe
June GIS in Business, USA
June Canadian conference on GIS, Canada
June European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories (EARSel) conference, Europe
July Applied Geographic Information Processing (AGIT), Salzburg, Austria
August URISA, USA
August GIS, Brno, Czech Republic
September UDMS Conference, Europe
September GIS: exhibition and AGI conference, Birmingham, UK
September Deutscher Geodo/ootentag, Germany
September International Airborne Remote Sensing conference and exhibition, Europe
October AM/FM International European division conference, Europe
October Annual conference and exhibition of Spanish GIS Association, Spain
October/November GIS/LIS, USA
November AM/FM International Japan division conference, Japan
November Australasian Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (AURISA) conference, Australia
AM/FM International - European Division, Administrative Secretariat, PO Box 6, CH-4005 Basel, Switzerland, Tel +41 61 691 51 11. Fax +41 61 691 81 89 The European co-ordinating body for users of Automated Mapping/Facilities Management.
EUROGI - European Umbrella Organisation for Geographical Information. Koningin Wilhelminalaan 41,3818 HN Amersfoort, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-33-604107, Fax: +31-33- 656457).This umbrella organisation represents all national GIS groups and subject specific groups in Europe.
GIVE - The Geographic Information Vendors in Europe. (contact AM/FM International, European division). This group provides a forum for European GIS vendors to identify areas of common interest and to communicate these issues to European authorities and other interest groups in order to achieve solutions.
UDMS (Urban Data Management Society), Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Geodesy, Thijsseweg 11, NL 2629, JA Delft, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 15 78 45 58. Fax: +31 15 78 23 48 Represents GIS users in the field of urban planning.
ASPRS - American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 5410 Grosvenor Lane, Suite 100, Bethesda, MD 20814-2122, USA Tel: +1-301-493-0200 Fax: +1-301-493-8245
NCGIA - US National Centre for Geographic Information and Analysis, University of California, 3510 Phelps Hall, Santa Barbara, California 93106-4060, USA Tel: +1 805 893 8224 Fax +1805 893 8617 The National Science Foundation funded group which is the focus for GIS research in the USA.
URISA - Urban and Regional Information Systems Association, 900 Second Street NE, Suite 304, Washington DC 20002, USA Tel: +1-202-289-1685
