| What is GIS? |
| A Geographic Information System is a computer-based system used for storing, retrieving, manipulating and displaying geographically referenced information. Basic GIS components are hardware, software, people and data used in an integrative approach. |
| What is GIScience? |
| Geographic Information Science is the science behind the technology that embraces multidisciplinary fields for the development of spatial analytical procedures and for the processing and production of geographic information. |
| Some of the disciplinary fields involved in GIScience are Cartography, Spatial Statistics, Remote Sensing, Urban and Transportation Planning, Environmental Sciences, Information Technology, Database Design, and Business systems. |
| The major purpose of GIScience is the maintenance of cutting edge technology for answering fundamental questions involving the representation of the Earth's surface and its characteristics in a digital system. |
| Who uses GIS? |
| GIS is helpful in providing geographical information that may be used for future planning. It is an invaluable supporting system for government services and planning organizations to develop planning instruments for urban and regional design, marketing, resource and environmental management, transportation, criminology, sociology, real estate, and water and power utilities. |
| A growing area of GIS applications is the distribution of user-requested maps via the Internet. Web-based GIS applications allow public and private sectors to disseminate geographic information accessible worldwide and cost effectively. |