An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems

As a novice at Geographical Information Systems I was looking for a guide that simply explained the technology without being too basic. This book was just what I was looking for.

My husband is taking AutoCAD Drafting and Design at a note worthy technical school and out of all the tech books they have reviewed this one stands out with the most precise and informative information. This is the first year they offered this program.

This book has the best organization of all the GIS texts I've read. Other texts have either too little or too much on some topics (especially GIS project management and GIS analysis). This one has an excellent balance. A little more on data sources would have been nice. The British authors use a few terms American students won't recognize, but it reads very well. I'm recommending it right now over other overviews of GIS.

This book introduces the basic principles of GIS from the perspective of a new user. Topics are covered with enough depth so that the book will also be beneficial to longer-term users. The writing style, graphics and case studies are presented in a simple and easy to read format. The book could be used as a text for a course or read by anyone interested in learning the fundamentals behind GIS technology. There is also a web site for the book that will allow readers access to current trends in GIS and URLs for case studies.