Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems

Rating:
Summary: Most topics are covered, but this book is barely readable
Review: I am a GIS novice, and am about 1/3 of the way through the book. There is definitely a lot of useful and current information in this book, so I find it worth reading. However, I feel editorial work on it is needed in several ways. There are numerous examples of sloppy use of English (both in choice of words and in paragraph structure), discussions that are overly abstract, and explanations that are lengthy yet unclear. This was not universal, but occurred annoyingly often. On subjects I knew something about already, I was able to see how the book's accounts were accurate, but only after puzzling over the author's choice of phraseology. I will definitely have to look elsewhere for an understanding of map projections, database structures, raster models, and other topics.

Too much time is spent early in the book belaboring an abstract conceptual framework, where some concrete examples would serve much better. It was also disconcerting that certain terms are used without being defined (or only defined very abstractly), forcing the reader to guess meaning from the context. Yet other relatively simple terms are defined at length. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter are sometimes too open-ended, not focussed on the chapter material.

It is difficult to write for neophytes about a subject one knows intimately -- as I'm sure the author does. Important terms and assumptions are embedded in the one's thinking, so one does not realize that some crucial points are unfamiliar to the student, and one tends to skip certain steps. This book has good coverage of GIS issues, but it would benefit from a more severe editor and from more feedback from the undergraduate audience on which areas need clarification.

Rating:
Summary: Useful, but needs editorial work
Review: I am a GIS novice, and am about 1/3 of the way through the book. There is definitely a lot of useful and current information in this book, so I find it worth reading. However, I feel editorial work on it is needed in several ways. There are numerous examples of sloppy use of English (both in choice of words and in paragraph structure), discussions that are overly abstract, and explanations that are lengthy yet unclear. This was not universal, but occurred annoyingly often. On subjects I knew something about already, I was able to see how the book's accounts were accurate, but only after puzzling over the author's choice of phraseology. I will definitely have to look elsewhere for an understanding of map projections, database structures, raster models, and other topics.

Too much time is spent early in the book belaboring an abstract conceptual framework, where some concrete examples would serve much better. It was also disconcerting that certain terms are used without being defined (or only defined very abstractly), forcing the reader to guess meaning from the context. Yet other relatively simple terms are defined at length. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter are sometimes too open-ended, not focussed on the chapter material.

It is difficult to write for neophytes about a subject one knows intimately -- as I'm sure the author does. Important terms and assumptions are embedded in the one's thinking, so one does not realize that some crucial points are unfamiliar to the student, and one tends to skip certain steps. This book has good coverage of GIS issues, but it would benefit from a more severe editor and from more feedback from the undergraduate audience on which areas need clarification.

Rating:
Summary: Yes, its full "useful info" but the writing is aweful!
Review: This book is fine if you already know alot of geography, datastructures and computing but if your knoweldge is basic beware because DeMers doesn't always explain everything very well. Sometimes its like he expects the reader to figure out stuff him/herself which is fine if you have no problem keeping up with his convoluted writing style, but for a person like me who does not enjoy engaging in some "Puzzling 101" whilst reading it becomes a wee bit of a nuissance.

That said, he seems like a knowledgable chap and it would be great if he could take some "Novel writing 101" so I can enjoy his future publications a bit more.

I am completely aware people love this kind of stuff though, who love the convolutions of a scientific writer. I am not one of them, I enjoy being spoon fed thank you very much.

Rating:
Summary: Most topics are covered, but this book is barely readable
Review: This book needs help, it is verbose. The book could be cut by a third, and would not lose any meaning. Most of the important topics are covered, but the discussions are often difficult to wade through, it takes forever to get to the main point.

There are better introductory texts out there. The ones by C.P. Lo and A.K Yeung, or by P. Bolstad are both more concise, to the point, easier to read, and just as complete in their coverage of topics.

Rating:
Summary: Yes, its full "useful info" but the writing is aweful!
Review: This is book is the most comprehensive introductory textbook on GIS on the market. I highly recommend this book for any newcomer to the field or any GIS professional. It has 200 pages on spatial analysis, a rarity in intro books on the subject.