Introduction to geographic information systems

This text is part of unit 5 in a Masters-level course in ‘Planning and Managing the Use of Space for Aquaculture’ made by the AquaSpace project. It supports a slide sequence that introduces Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which provide a framework for gathering, managing, and analyzing spatial data. They are used in relation to aquaculture for bringing together information on natural resources, protected areas and outputs of models. The data and examples are from the AquaSpace case study areas of Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK, and south-east North Sea, Germany.