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(More customer reviews)At first glance one might mistake this book as a textbook for a class on the various uses of GIS in a homeland security context; however its usefulness extends outside of homeland security operations. This book is designed in such a manner that someone with little or no knowledge of GIS could start from the basics (learning the ArcGIS interface and the various types of data) and continue to build upon those skills until they had sufficient knowledge to utilize GIS for homeland security operations. What allows this book to stand out from textbooks is the step-by-step scenario-based instructions that allow users to accumulate GIS skills at their own pace without the need for an instructor-led class.
Perhaps the strongest point of this book in a tutorial sense is the way the exercises integrate the acquisition of data from a variety of sources. The book of course comes with the standard data disk needed to complete exercises, but some of the exercises require that the user explore data acquisition over the internet through sites that offer data pertinent to homeland security. While the data acquisition techniques utilized will likely offer little to the experienced GIS user, it can certainly allow beginning and intermediate users to gain an understanding of the multitude of data sources that are available. This aspect of the book alone extends its usefulness to a variety of subfields that utilize GIS (rather than just homeland security). This book may be of particular interests to organizations whose users regularly interact with state and federal agencies to obtain data either directly or through web-mapping applications.
GIS Tutorial for Homeland Security is divided into 7 chapters. The first 2 chapters provide an introduction to the uses of GIS in a homeland security context and demonstrate how such data can be visualized. The remaining 5 chapters guide the user through scenarios specific to steps within homeland security (Prepare, Prevent, Protect, Respond, and Recover). Each of the chapters features a robust exercise that allows the user to experience exactly how GIS can be implemented to assist in the tasks associated with each step. Throughout the book users gain hands-on knowledge of how to utilize various tools within GIS and experience in how their results can be presented in various formats. The exercises do not focus solely on ArcMap, but also extend to the other programs in the ArcGIS suite. The scenarios featured in the book range from preparing for the possibility of a chemical or explosive attack to restoring critical services following an earthquake.
Although this book is useful in a variety of settings (including as an addition to any GIS users reference library), it is well designed for use in an academic setting. The introduction offers a comprehensive set of notes for instructors on how the book can be implemented in a variety of educational settings (including varying semester lengths). Included on the books data CD is a set of 7 PowerPoint presentations that summarize the concepts conveyed in each chapter. The presentations also provide introductory information for the scenarios. The book's authors propose two situations in which the book can be utilized as a textbook. In the first situation the authors suggest the book as an "application resource for a course in GIS applications in homeland security". In the second situation the authors suggest the book as a "professional development tool for homeland security administrators, first responders, and GIS professionals".
It is important to understand that GIS Tutorial for Homeland Security reserves most of its potential for those users who are just sitting down to use ArcGIS for the first time and need a primer that can get them up and running with the program. Of particular interest to the new user is the 180-day evaluation copy of ArcView 9.3 that comes packaged with the book. Some of the scenarios presented would be helpful to even the more experienced users as they demonstrate how GIS can be integrated into homeland security measures rather than leaving it up to the user to bridge the gap. The chapters are divided into sections that allow the user to digest the information and allow them to learn the material without having to make it their sole focus. If you have an interest in homeland security this book will show you the potential of GIS. Even those outside of homeland security can take advantage of this books simplistic format to expand upon their current knowledge and pick up a few new skills.
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"GIS Tutorial for Homeland Security" presents a key ingredient to the recovery and improvement of national security with exercises that integrate the best practices of GIS and public safety to safeguard the nation in times of deliberate attacks and natural disasters. This tutorial is the perfect start to building and examining different strategies of defense, presenting tutorials on preparing a Mimimum Essential Datasets (MEDs) database, information sharing and collaboration, a critical infrastructure protection program, citizen protection, search and rescue, and more. The tutorial includes a data CD and a 180-day trial DVD of ArcView GIS 9.3.
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