--- title: "Short note: GIS components and sub-systems" subject: "Surveying II" chapter: 10 key: "semester_4/surveying_ii:gis-components-subsystems" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/surveying_ii/gis-components-subsystems site: BCT Engineering --- # Short note: GIS components and sub-systems Surveying II · Chapter 10: Geographic Information System (GIS) - Asked in: 2079 Jestha, 4 marks; 2073 Magh, 4 marks; 2073 Bhadra, 4 marks; 2072 Asoj, 4 marks; 2072 Magh, 4 marks; 2071 Bhadra, 4 marks; 2071 Magh, 4 marks; 2070 Bhadra, 8 marks; 2068 Bhadra, 8 marks; 2076 Baisakh, 4 marks; 2076 Bhadra, 4 marks (asked 11 times) - Video: [GIS 4 Subsystem](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aMW-DgzGss) — Aizat Ramli - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/surveying_ii/gis-components-subsystems - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_4/surveying_ii/chapter-10 ## Question Write a short note on the components and sub-systems of GIS and its applications in civil engineering. ## Short answer GIS components are hardware, software, spatial and attribute data, people, and methods. Subsystems cover data input (digitizing, scanning), storage and database management, manipulation and analysis (overlay, buffering), and output (maps, reports). Civil engineering applications include route/site selection, utility mapping, hazard mapping, water resources, and urban planning. ## Answer A **Geographic Information System (GIS)** is a computer-based system for capturing, storing, managing, analysing and displaying spatially referenced (geographic) data. #### Components ```text Hardware Software Data People Methods \ | | | / +---------------------------------+ | GIS | +---------------------------------+ ``` 1. **Hardware:** computers, scanners, digitisers, GPS, plotters and printers. 2. **Software:** GIS software (e.g. ArcGIS, QGIS) with tools for input, database management, analysis and display. 3. **Data:** spatial data (vector and raster) and attribute data (tables). 4. **People:** users, analysts and managers who design and run the system. 5. **Methods (procedures):** the rules and workflows for the work. #### Subsystems 1. **Data input (capture) subsystem:** digitising, scanning, GPS, remote sensing and field data are converted into digital form. 2. **Data storage and database management subsystem:** stores and retrieves spatial and attribute data in a database. 3. **Data manipulation and analysis subsystem:** transformation, overlay, buffering, network analysis and queries. 4. **Data output (display) subsystem:** maps, tables, graphs and reports on screen or paper. #### Applications in civil engineering - Route selection and site suitability for roads, canals, dams and pipelines by overlay analysis. - Urban and land use planning; cadastral and land record management. - Utility mapping (water supply, sewer, electricity) and asset management. - Flood, landslide and earthquake hazard mapping and disaster management. - Watershed and water resource management; environmental impact assessment. - Transport planning, traffic and accident analysis. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. What is a GIS? A. A paper atlas of maps B. A computer-based system to capture, store, manage, analyse and display spatially referenced data C. A system for only drawing maps in CAD D. A satellite navigation system Answer: B. GIS handles spatial and attribute data through the full cycle. (Key point: GIS definition) 2. Which are the five components of GIS? A. Hardware, software, satellites, plotters and maps B. Input, storage, analysis, output and people C. Hardware, software, data, people and methods D. Data, scanners, GPS, maps and users Answer: C. Hardware, software, data, people and methods form the components. (Key point: Components) 3. Which are the four subsystems of GIS? A. Hardware, software, data and people B. Scanning, plotting, printing and digitising C. Collection, field work, drawing and tracing D. Data input, storage and database management, manipulation and analysis, and output Answer: D. These four subsystems cover input to output. (Key point: Subsystems) 4. Which belongs to the manipulation and analysis subsystem? A. Overlay, buffering, network analysis and queries B. Scanning and digitising C. Printing maps D. Entering GPS data Answer: A. Overlay, buffer, network analysis and queries are analysis operations. (Key point: Analysis subsystem) ## Related in Surveying II - [GPS principle and components, GIS applications](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Agps-principle-gis-applications) — Surveying II, chapter 8, asked 2× - [Short note: GIS and its applications](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Agis-applications-civil) — Surveying II, chapter 10, asked 5× - [Short note: Define photogrammetry, GIS applications](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Aphotogrammetry-define-gis-applications) — Surveying II, chapter 10 - [Short note: GIS advantages and applications](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Agis-advantages-applications) — Surveying II, chapter 10 - [GPS principles, components, applications](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Agps-principles-components-applications) — Surveying II, chapter 8 - [Short note: Applications of remote sensing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fsurveying_ii%3Aremote-sensing-applications) — Surveying II, chapter 7, asked 15× ## Related in other subjects - [Civil, mechanical and electrical components](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fpower_plant_design%3Ahydropower-civil-mech-elec) — Power Plant Design, chapter 3 - [Scope and importance of geology in civil engineering](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Ascope-and-importance-of-geology) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 1, asked 24× - [Important properties of civil engineering materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aimportant-properties-civil-materials) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 8× - [Importance and scope of civil engineering materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aimportance-scope-subject) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 8×