Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data related to positions on the Earth's surface. Typically, GIS is used for handling maps of one kind or another. These might be represented as several different layers where each layer holds data about a particular kind of feature. Each feature is linked to a position on the graphical image on a map and a record in an attribute table. GIS can relate otherwise disparate data on the basis of common geography, revealing hidden patterns, relationships, and trends that are not readily apparent in spreadsheets or statistical packages, often creating new information from existing data resources.
GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization geographic analysis benefits offered by maps. You can link information (attributes) to spatial data in various layers, such as people to addresses, building, sales and value information to parcels, or names and ranges to streets. You can then turn on or off these layers depending on what you want to visualize. Information to create a spatial layer comes from several different sources, such as aerial photographs, GPS points, lines (streets), or polygons (parcels). You choose what layers to combine based on what question you need to answer. This ability to visualize data distinguishes GIS from other information systems and makes it valuable to a wide range of public and private enterprises for explaining events, predicting outcomes, and planning strategies, i.e., Emergency Management, Zoning, etc.
products and services for a nominal fee such as Aerials, GIS Maps, Parcel Shape files, Street Layers and Special Orders to name just a few.
