A geographic information system (GIS) is a theoretical framework for collecting and analyzing geographical and geographic data. GIS programs (also known as GIS software) are computer-based tools that enable users to make interactive queries (user-created searches), store and modify spatial and non-spatial data, analyze spatial data output, and graphically communicate the results of these operations by presenting them as maps.
Geographic information science (or GIScience) is a term that refers to the scientific study of geographic ideas, applications, and systems. It is sometimes abbreviated as GIS.
Multiple technologies, processes, approaches, and methodologies make use of geographic information systems. Engineering, planning, management, transportation/logistics, insurance, telecommunications, and business are among the activities and applications to which they are linked. As a result, geographic information systems (GIS) software application and location intelligence applications are at the heart of location-based services that depend on spatial analysis and visualization.
Through the use of location as the “key index variable,” GIS allows previously unconnected information to be linked. The date and time of occurrence, as well as x, y, and z coordinates; indicating longitude (x), latitude (y), and elevation (z), may be used to record locations and extents discovered in Earth’s spacetime (z). All Earth-based, spatial–temporal, location and extent references should be able to be compared to one another, and eventually to a “real” physical location or extent. This fundamental feature of GIS has started to open up new lines of scientific inquiry and research.
Modern GIS systems rely on digital data, which is created via a variety of digitized data production techniques. Digitization is the most typical technique of data generation, in which a hard copy map or survey plan is converted to a digital format using a CAD software and geo-referencing capabilities. Heads-up digitization is becoming the primary method for extracting geographic data, thanks to the widespread availability of ortho-rectified images (from satellites, airplanes, Helikites, and UAVs). In contrast to the conventional technique of drawing the geographic form on a separate digitizing tablet, heads-up digitizing includes tracing geographic data directly on top of the aerial picture (heads-down digitizing). Manual digitization, also known as heads-down digitizing, involves feeding information into a computer using a special magnetic pen, or stylus, to produce an equivalent digital map. Instead of a stylus, some tablets utilize a puck, which is a mouse-like instrument.The puck includes a tiny window with crosshairs for identifying map objects with better accuracy. Although heads-up digitization is increasingly popular, heads-down digitizing is still helpful for digitizing low-quality maps.
GIS Software applications take care of a procedure that manipulates geographical data. A typical geoprocessing operation takes an input dataset, applies an operation on it, and then returns the result as an output dataset. Geographic feature overlay, feature selection and analysis, topological processing, raster processing, and data conversion are all common geoprocessing processes. Geoprocessing enables the definition, administration, and analysis of data utilized in decision-making.
