About GIS

What is it? GIS (geographic information systems) is the term for computerized mapping. ArcView (manufactured and distributed by ESRI, Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., web site: http://www.esri.com) is the most commonly used software. Whereas paper maps are static, computerized maps are dynamic. GIS is a tool for managing information of any kind according to where it is located.

What are its uses? GIS has unlimited uses! People in a wide range of fields are using desktop GIS to find potential customers, locate the best place for a new business or facility, identify natural areas needing protection, find the best places to develop real estate, manage extensive road networks, inventory forest lands, do emergency planning in urban areas, manage resources after fire and flood - the list goes on. Other applications include:

• Identifying and studying watersheds;
• Mapping and modeling sewer, water and other community services;
• Research changing wildlife habitat use on public and private lands;
• Identify and model flood plains and evacuation plans;
• Documenting archaeological sites and findings;
• Mapping and viewing global and local vegetation cover from satellite images;
• Mapping migratory flyways;
• County planning and zoning...and much, much more!

The National Gap Analysis Program uses GIS to create a land cover map for each state, overlaying the distribution of wildlife. Ecological hotspots and gaps in protection are identified.

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to access GIS resources on the web!