Geographic Information Systems

What is GIS?

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a discipline devoted to the acquisition, storage, management, analysis, and visualization of spatial data in a computer environment. Unlike a paper map that displays only one view of information and stores only a limited amount of spatial data, GIS allows for many views of data, virtually unlimited storage, and the ability to integrate and analyze many data sets for a desired purpose. GIS provides a suite of tools used to support many kinds of decision-making and analysis, from environmental policy to marketing to demographic research, and beyond.

GIS is a system of computer hardware, software, data, methods and people used to inventory, analyze and manage information about the world around us!

Please visit these academic websites for a better idea of how GIS can be used in map projects:

Asst. Prof. Mark Harrower - interactive maps

GIS Certificate Program - analysis and mapping

State Cartographer's Office

Your map and GIS

When starting a map project, or converting an older map design, please ask about GIS services. For example, we can produce shaded relief images from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). Shaded reliefs are easy to produce and add interest to ordinary thematic maps.

This map without GIS data:

(click for larger image)

Becomes this with shaded relief:

(click for larger image)

And this...

Becomes this when adding a GIS data layer: