What is GIS?
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Simply put, a GIS
combines layers of information about a place to
give you a better understanding of that place.
What layers of
information you combine depends on your
purpose—finding the best location for a new
store, analyzing environmental damage, viewing
similar crimes in a city to detect a pattern,
and so on.
What is GIS?
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What do you need to
use GIS?
A full GIS, or geographic information system,
requires:
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A GIS is
a computer system capable of capturing, storing,
analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced
information; that is, data identified according to
location. Practitioners also define a GIS as
including the procedures, operating personnel, and
spatial data that go into the system.
The
power of a GIS comes from the ability to relate
different information in a spatial context and to
reach a conclusion about this relationship. Most of
the information we have about our world contains a
location reference, placing that information at some
point on the globe. When rainfall information is
collected, it is important to know where the
rainfall is located. This is done by using a
location reference system, such as longitude and
latitude, and perhaps elevation. Comparing the
rainfall information with other information, such as
the location of marshes across the landscape, may
show that certain marshes receive little rainfall.
This fact may indicate that these marshes are likely
to dry up, and this inference can help us make the
most appropriate decisions about how humans should
interact with the marsh. A GIS, therefore, can
reveal important new information that leads to
better decision-making.
Environmental studies, geography, geology, planning,
business marketing, and other disciplines have
benefited from GIS tools and methods. Together with
cartography, remote sensing, global positioning
systems, photogrammetry, and geography, the GIS has
evolved into a discipline with its own research base
known as geographic information sciences. An active
GIS market has resulted in lower costs and continual
improvements in GIS hardware, software, and data.
These developments will lead to a much wider
application of the technology throughout government,
business, and industry.
GIS
and related technology will help analyze large
datasets, allowing a better understanding of
terrestrial processes and human activities to
improve economic vitality and environmental quality.
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