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What is GIS?

Geographic Information Systems are systems to create, store, view, edit, analyze and export geospatial data data that is tied to locations on the earth's surface.

Other definitions that shed light on the purpose and use of GIS:

"A system of hardware, software, data, people, organizations and institutional arrangements for collecting, storing, analyzing and disseminating information about areas of the earth." (Dueker and Kjerne, 1989)

Popular GIS Software Applications include ESRI ArcGIS, QGIS and MapInfo. Specialized software such as ArcGIS and QGIS allow for creation and analysis of spatial data, as well as custom map creation.

Popular scripting and programming languages for geospatial analysis include Python and R.

Popular tools for web mapping include Google Maps, Bing Maps, Strava, ArcGIS Online.  These allow for viewing and creating geographic information such as imagery, highways, roads, terrain. 

Popular tools for web map development include Leaflet.js and Google Maps. 

Effective geographic information systems are an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information.

GIS systems are used widely. Some primary uses include:

  • scientific research
  • political maps
  • regional planning
  • natural resources planning
  • land conservation mapping and analysis
  • driving directions and route-finding
  • navigation on land, rivers and oceans
  • Emergency Management,
  • Flood Inundation Modeling,
  • Regional Planning,
  • Natural Resources Research and Planning,
  • Land Conservation,
  • Spatial Analysis,
  • Geostatistical Analysis,
  • Land Parcel Ownership and Property Tax mapping,
  • Health Care Delivery Mapping,
  • Driving Directions,
  • Navigation on Rivers, Lakes and Oceans

Geospatial systems often utilize Global Positioning Systems to identify the user's approximate location, as well as their approximate speed and direction, based on time signals from at least four GPS Satellites.

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