Mechanics and Meanings of
Geographic Information Systems

More than computer mapping...

The quality that distinguishes a Geographic Information System (GIS) from graphic, design, and data base systems is its ability to analyze and model data in a spatial context. The ability of a GIS to manipulate data from specific geographic locations offers the opportunity to create a realistic perspective of the world and a chance to to see the effects of future actions. This unque ability is providing scientists, regional planners, and resource manages the opportunity to distill and combine large sets of spatial data into useful information, offering new perspectives and fresh approaches to problem solving.

As its name implies, a GIS is composed of discrete but interacting components. The obvious parts of a GIS are the hardware and software, but just having the hardware and software cannot make a GIS work. The critical component to the whole system is a competent human analyst. The analyst is responsible for developing a careful set of procedures that outline a mission, evaluate data needs, and sucessfully capatalize on the abilities of the hardware and software.