What is GIS?

GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems

GIS is a mapping technology that allows the user to create and interact with a variety of maps and data sources.

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. In a more generic sense, GIS is a tool that allows users to create interactive queries (user created searches), analyze the spatial information, and edit data. Geographic information science is the science underlying the applications and systems, taught as a degree program by several universities.


GIS integrates databases with georeferenced spatial data (maps tied to specific known locations). In other words GIS allows the user to create visual displays of tabular information. In a GIS the user is able to decide how the data will be displayed. GIS projects can range from global projects to site specific (such as a school and schoolyard). Educators and their students can collect and create their own data and uste the GIS to display the data and analyze the results.

Definitions of GIS on the Web:

Analysis that combine relational databases with spatial interpretation and outputs often in form of maps. A more elaborate definition is that of computer programmes for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, analysing and displaying data about the earth that is spatially referenced.www.adrc.or.jp/publications/terminology/top.htm

A computer system designed to allow users to collect, manage and analyze large volumes of spatially referenced information and associated attribute data.www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/glossary/G.htm

Geographic Information Systemswww.st.com/stonline/press/news/glossary/g.htm

Geographic information system. 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.www.fws.gov/data/IMADS/glossary.htm

A computer system designed for storing, manipulating, analyzing, and displaying data in a geographic context.www.nsc.org/ehc/glossary.htm

In Canada, a supplemental monthly benefit available to Old Age Security (OAS) recipients who receive less income than a stated amount.www.1stinsured.com/g.htm

Gas Imaging Spectrometer. A type of detector on ASCA. There are two GISs called GIS2 and GIS3.ledas-www.star.le.ac.uk/asca/asca_glossary.html

GIS is a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information (ie spatial data).commpres.env.state.ma.us/content/glossary.asp

Geographic Information System (ie Computerized Mapping). www.kentonpva.com/htm/glossary2.htm

Geographic Information System: A system of computer hardware, software and data for collecting, storing, analyzing and disseminating information about areas of the earth. For land transportation purposes, GIS is defined as a highway network (spatial data which graphically represents the geometry of the highways, ie, an electronic map) and its geographically referenced component attributes (road and bridge data, socioeconomic data, etc. ...www.oahutrans2k.com/info/glossary/G.htm

Geographical Information Servicescalview.casil.ucdavis.edu/glossary.html

Computer-based methods of recording, analyzing, combining, and displaying geographic information such as roads, streams, stand or habitat types, sensitive areas, soil types, or any other feature that can be mapped on the ground. GIS are especially useful in management planning and land-use decisions on a landscape scale.www.sfrc.ufl.edu/Extension/ssfor11.htm

Computer programs linking features commonly seen on maps (such as roads, town boundaries, water bodies) with related information not usually presented on maps, such as type of road surface, population, type of agriculture, type of vegetation, or water quality information. A GIS is a unique information system in which individual observations can be spatially referenced to each other. Goalwww.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/info/rcwp/gloss.html

(Geographic Information System) A system of mapping software that integrates the collection, management and analysis of geographic data. This can be used to display the results of data queries as maps and analyse spatial distribution of data.www.quartix.net/schools/glossary.htm

Geographic Information System, joins electronic files (databases) containing environmental measurements taken at a specific location, to maps showing geographic features. This approach allows scientists to show large amounts of data from specific locations on a map showing landscape features such as wetlands and land use. 2) A computer system that links geographic reference data to attribute datasets, with the capability to display features and analytical outcomes on maps. ...response.restoration.noaa.gov/cpr/watershed/calcasieu/calc_html/resources/glossary.html

A mapping system that uses computers to collect, store, manipulate, analyze, and display data. For example, GIS can show the concentration of a contaminant within a community in relation to points of reference such as streets and homes (ATSDR 2003). www.racteam.com/LANLRisk/Glossary.htm

Geographic Information System, a computer-based graphics program that allows the superposition of plan-maps of thematic elements, such as roads, rivers, land use patterns, and the like to aid in local or regional planning activities. www.geog.ubc.ca/courses/g102/Resources/G102Glossary.html

A computer based system used to input, store, retrieve, and analyze geographic data sets. The GIS is usually composed of map-like spatial representations called layers which contain information on a number of attributes such as elevation, land ownership and use, crop yield and soil nutrient levels.www.bae.uky.edu/~precag/PrecisionAg/PAterms.htm

A computer hardware and software system designed to collect, manipulate, analyze, and display spatially referenced data for solving complex resource, environmental and social problems.www.edisonwetlands.org/resources/glossary.html

A computerized system that provides advanced capabilities for the processing and interpretation of spatial information from the real world. research.amnh.org/biodiversity/symposia/archives/seascapes/glossary.html

Computer-assisted systems that acquire, store, manipulate, and display geographic data. Some systems are not automated. (NASA) www.spaceforspecies.ca/glossary/g.htm

Geographic Information Systems. "Decision support system involving the integration of spatially referenced data in a problem solving environment (Cowen 1988)".fwie.fw.vt.edu/tws-gis/glossary.htm

A computer system capable of storing and manipulating spatial (ie, mapped) data.www.streamnet.org/pub-ed/ff/Glossary/glossaryhabitat.html

A geographic data base that contains information about the distribution of physical and human characteristics of places or areas. In order to test hypotheses, maps of one characteristics or combination can be produced from the database to analyze the data relationships. nde.learningoptions.net/standards/standss/geocont/geogloss.html

Geographical Information Systems organize information indexed by location, made possible by the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites and the computational systems www.isye.gatech.edu/~tg/publications/ecology/eolss/node2.html

A geographic information system (GIS) is a system for managing spatial data and associated attributes. In the strictest sense, it is a computer system capable of integrating, storing, editing, analyzing, and displaying geographically-referenced information. In a more generic sense, GIS is a "smart map" tool that allow users to create interactive queries (user created searches), analyze the spatial information, and edit data. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gis

The Algerian Special Forces (French Groupe d'Intervention Spécial, hence GIS) is a special forces group created in Algeria in 1987, initially with 300 members. In addition to the "commando-style" training typical of Western forces like the French COS, Russian Spetnaz, or parachutists, they also receive "intervention" training, like that of the GIGN, RAID , SWAT or Spetnaz Alfa Brigade. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIS(Special_Forces)

GIS can refer to: * Geographic information system.* Geographic information science.* Guaranteed Income Supplement.* Gruppi di Intervento Speciale, the special forces unit of the Italian Carabinieri.* Google Image Search, the image finding capability of search engine Google.* Gas insulated switchgear for electric power distribution en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIS_(disambiguation)

History

GIS has evolved out of a long tradition of map making. In many respects, modern GIS dramatically increases the amount of information that can be contained and manipulated in a map. 35,000 years ago, on the walls of caves near Lascaux, France, Cro-Magnon hunters drew pictures of the animals they hunted. Associated with the animal drawings are track lines and tallies thought to depict migration routes. While simplistic in comparison to modern technologies, these early records mimic the two-element structure of modern geographic information systems, an image associated with attribute information.

Possibly the earliest use of the geographic method, a simplified representations of reality or simplified model of the reality is the Charles Joseph Minard's well-known map of Napoleon's 1812 campaign into Russia ( see figure). This map interprets multiple information themes on one map covering more than a very small area. As mentioned in Prof., Menno Jan Kraaks home page ( http://www.itc.nl/personal/kraak/) it is“possibly the best graphic ever made”“a narrative graphic of time and space which illustrates how multivariate complexity can be subtly integrated… so that viewers are hardly aware that they are looking into a world of four or five dimensions”

Another early work is the one made in 1854 by John Snow which depicted a cholera outbreak in London using points to represent the locations of individual cases. His study of the distribution of cholera led to the source of the disease, a contaminated water pump within the heart of the outbreak.

While the basic elements of topology and theme existed previously in cartography, the John Snow map was unique, using cartographic methods to depict clusters of a geographically dependent phenomena for the first time.

In the 1930s and 40s geographical analysis was conducted by overlaying different types of maps of the same area.Before the advent of computer technoogy, thematic maps on plastic Mylar sheets could be laid on top of each other, revealing more information about an area than was possible with any single paper map. This Mylar method was used for creating different overlays depicting landforms, soil types, vegetation patterns, and geomorphic features.Although the process was cumbersome and the amount of data limited, this method looks remarkably like the output of contemporary GIS; colored thematic maps were generated that aided in planning. Since the 1950s systems have evolved to convert this mapping into digital form and more recently to use this data for analysis and problem solving. Nowadays GIS is everywhere; you may even have some GIS software on your PC without even knowing it's there!

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