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What Is GIS?
Excerpts from:
RIGIS Presentation (2004) By John Stachlehaus
What’s in a Geographic Information System or GIS?
It’s more than a pretty map.
Hardware – Servers, Workstations and Desktops
Specialized Software – Commercially Available – MapInfo, Smallworld, ESRI (ArcGIS, ArcView) etc.
Trained Professionals, Specialists and Informed Users
A Database of Geospatial Information – Spatial Data and an associated Relational Database
Excerpts from:
GETTING STARTED WITH GIS
A GUIDE FOR MUNICIPALITIES
A key difference between viewing map information on paper or mylar versus using a GIS is that each person using the GIS can create their own view of information. Each individual user can choose what to see, why to see it, how to see it, and how to use it.
The real key for cities and towns is that a carefully planned and implemented GIS effectively integrates information with location. GIS can provide a better, faster, easier way for municipal employees to see the map information they need, to find answers to questions, and to carry out analyses based on spatial relationships. GIS also allows you to ask questions about spatial relationships you previously could not. By developing a GIS you can centrally store all this map and database information, thus creating an integrated information resource. Think of a GIS as an “information infrastructure” to support decision-making and management.
Excerpts from:
Town of Brookline GIS Pamphlet Ms. Feng Yang Brooline, MA GIS Manager
What is GIS? A Geographic Information System (GIS) uses computers and software to leverage the fundamental principle of geography—that location is important in people’s lives. It is a computerized system capable of managing and mapping spatially referenced data. GIS can help locate new businesses and track environmental degradation. It can help route garbage trucks and manage road paving. It can help marketers to find new prospects. It is used by assessors and appraisers in property valuation. Schools use it to manage its school districts and buffer zones. Public health officials use GIS to track complaints and public safety personnel to keep our community safe. GIS takes the numbers and words from the rows and columns in databases and spreadsheets and puts them on a map. It allows you to view,
understand, question, interpret, and visualize your data in ways simply not possible in rows and columns. With data on a map, you can ask more questions. You can ask “where?,” and why?,” and “how?,” all with the location information on hand. And you can make better decisions with the knowledge that geography and spatial analysis are included.
Excerpts from:
Duke University School of Environment and Earth Sciences
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