Definitions of GIS
A GIS is an information system that is designed to work with data referenced by spatial or geographic coordinates. It is both a database system with specific capabilities for spatially referenced data as well as a set of operations for working with the data.- Star and Estes, 1990
A GIS is a system that contains spatially referenced data that can be analyzed and converted to information for a specific set of purposes, or application .The key feature of a GIS is the analysis of data to produce new information.-Parent, 1988
A system of computer hardware, software, and procedures designed to support the capture, management, manipulation, analysis, modeling, and display of spatially referenced data for solving complex planning and management problems.-U.S. Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee, 1988
A GIS is a computer-based system that provides the following four sets of capabilities to handle georeferenced data:
A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on Earth.
GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps.
These abilities distinguish GIS from other information systems and make it valuable to a wide range of public and private enterprises for explaining events, predicting outcomes, and planning strategies.ESRI, 1997
GIS: The organized activity by which people
- Measure aspects of geographic phenomena and processes
- Represent these measurements, usually in the form of a computer database, to emphasize spatial themes, entities, and relationships
- Operate upon these representations to produce more measurements and to discover new relationships by integrating disparate sources and
- Transform these representations to conform to other frameworks of entities and relationships.
Distinguishing Features of GIS
- Use of spatially referenced data
- Graphical and attribute data input and editing
- Selective spatial and attribute query specialized spatial analysis tools
- Map and report generation
Other terms for GIS
- Land Information System (LIS)
- Land-Related Information System (LRIS)
- Spatial Information System (SIS)
- Environmental Information System (EIS)
- Automated Mapping and Facilities Management (AM/FM)