The study and application of spatial information systems have been developed primarily from the use of computers in the geosciences. These systems have the principle functions of capturing, storing, representing, manipulating, and displaying data in 2-D and 3-D worlds. This book approaches its subject from the perspectives of informatics and geography, presenting methods of conceptual modeling developed in computer science that provide valuable aids for resolving spatial problems. This book is an essential textbook for both students and practitioners. It is indispensable for academic geographers, computer scientists, and the GIS professional.
Key Features
* Serves as the first comprehensive textbook on the field of Spatial Information Systems (also known as Geographic Information Systems)
* Contains extensive illustrations
* Presents numerous detailed examples

What makes a hit a hit? In Hit Makers, Atlantic Senior Editor Derek Thompson puts pop culture under the lens of science to answer the question that every business, every producer, every person looking to promote themselves and their work has asked. Drawing on ancient history and modern headlines - from vampire lore and Brahms's Lullaby to Instagram - Thompson explores the economics and psychology of why certain things become extraordinarily popular. With incisive analysis and captivating storytelling, he reveals that, though blockbuster films, Internet memes and number-one songs seem to have come out of nowhere, hits actually have a story and operate by certain rules. People gravitate towards familiar surprises: products that are bold and innovative, yet instantly comprehensible. Whether he is uncovering the secrets of JFK and Barack Obama's speechwriters or analysing the unexpected reasons for the success of Fifty Shades of Grey, Thompson goes beyond the cultural phenomena that make the news by revealing the desires that make us all human. While technology might change, he shows, our innate preferences do not, and throughout history hits have held up a mirror to ourselves. From the dawn of Impressionist art to the future of Snapchat, from small-scale Etsy entrepreneurs to the origin of Star Wars, Derek Thompson tells the fascinating story of how culture happens - and where genius lives.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER A Book of the Year Selection for Inc. and Library Journal "This book picks up where The Tipping Point left off." -- Adam Grant, Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling author of ORIGINALS and GIVE AND TAKE Nothing "goes viral." If you think a popular movie, song, or app came out of nowhere to become a word-of-mouth success in today's crowded media environment, you're missing the real story. Each blockbuster has a secret history-of power, influence, dark broadcasters, and passionate cults that turn some new products into cultural phenomena. Even the most brilliant ideas wither in obscurity if they fail to connect with the right network, and the consumers that matter most aren't the early adopters, but rather their friends, followers, and imitators -- the audience of your audience. In his groundbreaking investigation, Atlantic senior editor Derek Thompson uncovers the hidden psychology of why we like what we like and reveals the economics of cultural markets that invisibly shape our lives. Shattering the sentimental myths of hit-making that dominate pop culture and business, Thompson shows quality is insufficient for success, nobody has "good taste," and some of the most popular products in history were one bad break away from utter failure. It may be a new world, but there are some enduring truths to what audiences and consumers want. People love a familiar surprise: a product that is bold, yet sneakily recognizable. Every business, every artist, every person looking to promote themselves and their work wants to know what makes some works so successful while others disappear. Hit Makers is a magical mystery tour through the last century of pop culture blockbusters and the most valuable currency of the twenty-first century-people's attention. From the dawn of impressionist art to the future of Facebook, from small Etsy designers to the origin of Star Wars, Derek Thompson leaves no pet rock unturned to tell the fascinating story of how culture happens and why things become popular. In Hit Makers, Derek Thompson investigates: * The secret link between ESPN's sticky programming and the The Weeknd's catchy choruses * Why Facebook is today's most important newspaper * How advertising critics predicted Donald Trump * The 5th grader who accidentally launched "Rock Around the Clock," the biggest hit in rock and roll history * How Barack Obama and his speechwriters think of themselves as songwriters * How Disney conquered the world-but the future of hits belongs to savvy amateurs and individuals * The French collector who accidentally created the Impressionist canon * Quantitative evidence that the biggest music hits aren't always the best * Why almost all Hollywood blockbusters are sequels, reboots, and adaptations * Why one year--1991--is responsible for the way pop music sounds today * Why another year --1932--created the business model of film * How data scientists proved that "going viral" is a myth * How 19th century immigration patterns explain the most heard song in the Western Hemisphere

This is a book of sexy poetic melodies, giving real life advice about the various forms of love. From family, friends, spiritual, and sexual, with a deeper twist than my other book, The Art of the Breakup.

A mystical fantasy quest that draws on esoteric themes such as reincarnation, the tarot, the Tree of Life and spiritual truth.

What you're about to read is not your average book. I'm not telling stories or fables. The Contents are real, The emotions behind it are true. This is more or less a Breakup Bible, A man-manual, A guide or a play book. If you yourself or anyone you know has been through is going through any heartache from a failed marriage or relationship, stop what your doing immediately and read this. The Chapters aren't long, boring or dragged out. It's straight to the point for a reason, who really got time to beat around the bush? This was formulated to put that smile back on your face and alleviate any hurt that you may have in your heart, so dry those tears by the time your done reading this you will feel mentally stronger and physically better.

I figure that if I have to endure the worst parts of bipolar disorder, like psychosis, I get to laugh as much as possible along the way. Somewhere Over the Rainbow, I've Lost My Damn Mind: A Manic's Mood Chart is the story of one Millennial's bipolar life, with moments ranging from the ridiculous to the terrifying to the hilarious. Blending pop culture references and cyberspeak with psychiatric terms, it combines the funny, conversational tone of Sh*t My Dad Says with a nonlinear narrative structure similar to that of Manic. The book began as a blog: if you had a delusional relationship with Britney Spears, wouldn't you brag about it to the entire world? To create the book, I organized the blog entries like a mood chart, a therapeutic tool which assigns colors of the rainbow to states of mind. The entries are divided into three sections, Depressed, Normal and Elevated, and cover the past three years: my psych ward getaways, my vision of fighting alongside Jesus at Armageddon, my attempts to find a woman who accepts that I sometimes lose my mind. Therapy "sessions" with a fictional psychiatrist provide my present-day reflections on each entry. (I had to create my ideal shrink because I tend to fight with the real ones.) Somewhere Over the Rainbow will be the first humorous memoir about bipolar by a member of the Millennial Generation-today's young adults. Because it doesn't follow the usual narrative format, the reader can flip through at random or take the traditional cover-to-cover route. My book's humor, pop culture references and Internet origins will appeal to Millennials, now entering their twenties and thirties, as well as younger Gen Xers. More than an account of coming to terms with a mental health condition, it's a story of being young and feeling lost, dealing with heartbreak and still finding plenty to laugh about, no matter what happens.