GIS - Geographic Information System

GIS – more than a map

Maps in their traditional form suffer from a number of problems. Firstly maps are static and therefore difficult and expensive to keep up to date. This relates to a second problem: Because they are static they loose flexibility. For example maps exist as discrete sheets and inevitably your area of interest lies on the corner of four adjacent sheets. In addition maps are often very complex and may require an expert to extract the particular data which are of interest.

GIS provides the facility to extract the different sets of information from a map (soils, vegetation, settlements, roads, etc.) and use these as required. This provides great flexibility, allowing a paper map to be quickly produced which exactly meets the needs of the user.

However, GIS goes further, because the data are stored on a computer, analysis and modelling become possible.

Thus, the major advantage of a GIS is that it allows you to identify the spatial relationships between map features: For example, one might point at two areas of interest, ask the computer to describe each from an attached database (much more information than could be displayed on a paper map) and then to calculate those parts of them which consist of common features.

You can say, GIS technology offers the power to create maps, integrate information, visualize scenarios, solve complicated problems, present powerful ideas, and develop effective solutions like never before. Before GIS technology, only a few people had the skills necessary to use geographic information to help with decision making and problem solving. Today, GIS is a tool used by individuals and organizations, schools, governments, and business seeking innovative ways to solve their problems.

© 1999 TRIANET, Program of the European Union Socrates-Comenius
Last update on 05.05.1999 by Markus Zapke-Gründemann