How GIS Works

How GIS Works:

·         Visualizing Data:

·                                     The geographic data that is stored in the databases are displayed in the GIS software.

·         Combining Data: Layers are combined to form a maps of desire.

·         The Query: To search the value in the layer or making a geographic queries.

Advantage of GIS:

·         Better decision made by government people

·         Improve decision making with the help of layered information

·         Citizen engagement due to better system

·         Help to identify communities that is under risk or lacking infrastructure

·         Helps in identifying criminology matters

·         Better management of natural resources

·         Better communication during emergency situation

·         Cost savings due to better decision

·         Finding different kinds of trends within the community

·         Planning the demographic changes

History of GIS:

Modern GIS has seen series of development. GIS has evolved with the computer system. Here are the brief events that has happened for the development of the GIS system.

Year 1854 – The term GIS that used scientific method to create maps was used by John Snow in 1854. He used points on London residential map to plot outbreak of Cholera.

Year 1960 – Modern computerized GIS system began in year 1960.

Year 1962 – Dr. Roger Tomlinson created and developed Canadian Geographic Information System (CGIS) to store, analyze and manipulate data that was collected for the Canada Land Inventory (CLI). This software had the capacity to overlay, measurement and digitizing (converting scan hardcopy map to digital data). It is never provided in commercial format but Dr. Tomlinson is the father of GIS.

Year 1980 – This period saw rise of commercial GIS software’s like M&S Computing, Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) and Computer Aided Resource Information System (CARIS). These all software were similar to CGIS with more functionality and user-friendliness. Among all the above the most popular today is ESRI products like ArcGIS, ArcView which hold almost 80 % of global market.