Application of geographic information system (GIS) in analyzing geospatial information of academic library databases
| Date | 01 June 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471211241645 |
| Published date | 01 June 2012 |
| Pages | 367-376 |
| Author | Mehri Sedighi |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Application of geographic
information system (GIS) in
analyzing geospatial information
of academic library databases
Mehri Sedighi
Information Management Faculty,
Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology,
Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the application of geographic information
systems as a decision support system in analyzing geospatial data in the databases of an academic
library.
Design/methodology/approach – In this study, after separation, the data on control, classification
and coding of the geospatial information existing in an academic library’s databases were entered into
a geographic information system. Then, using the ArcGIS software and its program (ArcMap), the
data were shown, described and analyzed based on existing needs and various indicators.
Findings – After performing various stages of this research, the geographic information system
indicates a range of features as follows: display and localization of the research done on different maps;
providing a variety of descriptive information on the features available on the system maps; data
analysis and evaluation, based on existing needs and various indicators such as research location,
university conducting research, date of research, educational course, etc.; evaluation and comparison
of universities and research centers with one another in terms of spatial distribution of their scientific
geospatial information; performing various calculations to determine and analyze the spatial
relationships of data, for example determining distance of research location from the university; and
the possibility of reporting a variety of attribute and spatial information of the system.
Originality/value – By using the analysis functions of the system and other logical and various
applications, the database can be prepared to answer the questions raised by the users and the results
will be very valuable in the process of decision making and planning in academic libraries and
research centers.
Keywords Geographicinformation systems, Dataanalysis, Library databases,Academic libraries,Iran
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IRANDOC) is
an institute affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology (MSRT)
which was established to work in the field of science and technology of information
and librarianship. The institute enjoys total independence and according to the articles
of association, its activities consist of information research, collecting and
dissemination of scientific information and documentation for the purpose of
meeting the information needs in this area and undertaking the development of a
scientific information network. To achieve this goal, this institute has so far developed
various scientific databases and meets different information needs of its users. At
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
Analyzing
geospatial
information
367
Received August 2010
Revised November 2010
Accepted December 2010
The Electronic Library
Vol. 30 No. 3, 2012
pp. 367-376
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640471211241645
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