What is GIS 

A Geographic Information System (GIS) allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts.   

A GIS is an information system designed to work with data referenced by spatial / geographical coordinates. In other words, GIS is both a database system with specific capabilities for spatially referenced data as well as a set of operations for working with the data. It may also be considered as a higher order map. GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps. These abilities distinguish GIS from other information systems and make it valuable to a wide range of public and private enterprises for explaining events, predicting outcomes, and planning strategies. (ESRI) A Geographic Information System is a computer based system which is used to digitally reproduce and analyze the feature present on earth surface and the events that take place on it.  In the light of the fact that almost 70% of the data has geographical reference as it’s denominator, it becomes imperative to underline the importance of a system which can represent the given data geographically.

A typical GIS can be understood by the help of various definitions given below:- A Geographic Information System is a computer based system which is used to digitally reproduce and analyze the feature present on earth surface and the events that take place on it.  In the light of the fact that almost 70% of the data has geographical reference as it’s denominator, it becomes imperative to underline the importance of a system which can represent the given data geographically.

  1.  A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and  analyzing things that exist and events that happen on Earth .
  2. Burrough in 1986 defined GIS as, “Set of tools for collecting, storing, retrieving at will, transforming and displaying spatial data from the real world for a particular set of purposes”
  3. Arnoff in 1989 defines GIS as, “a computer based system that provides four sets of capabilities to handle geo-referenced data :

i. data input

ii. data management (data storage and retrieval)

iii. manipulation and analysis.

vi. data output.

GIS Advantage  

The Geographic Information System has been an effective tool for implementation and monitoring of municipal infrastructure. The use of GIS has been in vogue primarily due to the advantage mentioned below:

  1. Planning of project
  2. Make better decisions
  3. Visual Analysis
  4. Improve Organizational Integration  

 

Need of GIS?   

Many professionals, such as foresters, urban planners, and geologists, have recognized the importance of spatial dimensions in organizing & analyzing information. Whether a discipline is concerned with the very practical aspects of business, or is concerned with purely academic research, geographic information system can introduce a perspective, which can provide valuable insights as

  1. Factors Aiding the rise of GIS.70% of the information has geographic location as it’s denominator making spatial analysis an essential tool.
  2. Ability to assimilate divergent sources of data both spatial and non-spatial (attribute data).
  3. Visualization Impact.
  4. Analytical Capability.
  5. Sharing of Information.
  1. Revolution in Information Technology.
  2. Computer Technology.
  3. Remote Sensing.
  4. Global Positioning System.
  5. Communication Technology.
  6. Rapidly declining cost of Computer Hardware, and at the same time, exponential growth of operational speed of computers.
  7. Enhanced functionality of software and their user-friendliness.
  8. Visualizing impact of GIS corroborating the Chinese proverb “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
  9. Geographical feature and data describing it are part of our everyday lives & most of our everyday decisions are influenced by some facet of Geography.