Benefits of GIS

GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, is the hardware, software and human elements that construct digital maps where every point, line and shape is connected to an information database. Digitizing is the process of taking hard-copy data - paper maps, slides, records and spreadsheets, and turning it into spatial data. The user chooses which database information is displayed as a layer on the digital map. The options are virtually limitless.

Many local governments use GIS to have a graphic display of city streets, county roads or interstate highways. The database supplies public works personnel information such as when streets were last paved, surfaced or line painted, what the speed limit is, the length of each street block or roadway segment and items of note related to safety conditions. For productive management that GIS layer is easily linked to real time data of traffic conditions, traffic cameras, and construction information. GIS has economic development applications when the data is added to analysis that can be used to convince businesses to start-up, expand or relocate. GIS is obviously an excellent tool for site selection analysis using geo-referenced data. An example is tying a specific land parcel map to location-specific demographic reports for user-defined distances, business/industry analysis, and property searches.

The art of cartography with GIS is that it is incredibly useful in getting across what could be quite a complex mixture of factors & data in a very visual easy-to-understand way.
A word is worth a word, it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, a well-made GIS map may be worth a million words. A GIS cartographer takes masses of information and creates visuals that make sense to policy makers.

For more information on the uses of GIS visit www.esri.com