Global Information System

The Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system that captures, stores, analyzes, and displays data according to its geographic location. The GIS might be described as the synthesis, or coming together, of modern technology and the ancient art of mapping. Since humans have been making maps of the Earth and sky for thousands of years, it seems only logical that the two would eventually be combined.

The geographic locating system that most people are familiar with is the Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS receivers that pick up radio waves transmitted by orbiting satellites, are now used in all sorts of new products like planes, trains, automobiles, and cell phones. GPS output is only one of many types of data that gets incorporated into the Geographic Information System.