A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a system used to gather data and incorporate it in order to store, scrutinize, distribute, and show geographic information. GIS data displays actual world features such as elevations, terrain, and transportation networks, in a digital format.

Images that are displayed come from the area where the information was retrieved. Users can take the information for such purposes as analysing the digitally displayed data, mapping the data, and editing the data. A GIS will include application software for aerial photography, surveying land, extensive geographical mapping, remote sensing, and much more. It is often used to study global problems in an effort to find solutions much more quickly.

Recently, Geographic Information Systems have been developed to be used by the public. For instance, Bing Maps and Google Maps are GIS applications now used by millions of people around the world. Through interactive web mapping, the public now has access to large volumes of geographical information. Another important use of GIS is its use when studying climate change. It is now used in the tracking and analyzing of data regarding the impact of climate change. For example, GIS is used to study the ice melting in the Arctic.

Earthquake mapping is another way one can use GIS. One can map tectonic shifts in high risk earthquake areas for public safety planning and business development such as determining insurance rates. In regards to business marketing techniques, a business can use GIS to analyse demographic data to find regions where they will likely sell their products or services. Governments can utilize GIS to analyse census information such as health and education statistics. This is helpful for creating or modifying public policies and government spending. It can also provide health research assistance such as analysing heart disease research data. As well, it can help with the creation of jobs in the appropriate regions which can give a boost to the economy.

Not only is GIS technology used for climate change research, it can be used for security and law enforcement logistics, urban planning and development such as selecting where to develop communities and roads that will have the least environmental impact, business marketing and evaluating a potential business market, cartography, management of natural resources, natural resource mapping, archaeology research analysis, and tracking and analyzing natural disasters with the intent of improving emergency response time. As well, GIS technology can be used as an educational tool for technology schools and universities for such studies as geography, science, and mathematics. Even high school students can make use of GIS in their curriculum.

Mapping where places and objects are located will help people find places that have the attributes they are searching for, and if there are problems, they can then identify what needs to be done and put together an efficient and effective problem solving strategy. As well, they are able to see important patterns emerging. The objective of GIS is to identify new trends from the analysed research. Studying data using the Geographic Information System will help one learn and understand information much quicker and easier.

The explosion of consumer demand for geospatial solutions and tools such as geographic Information systems (GIS) to manipulate and graphically display such information have brought GIS into the daily lives of millions across the globe, whether they know it or not!

Geospatial technology is the science encompasses a broad range of disciplines that can be brought together to create a detailed but understandable picture of the physical world and our place in it. These disciplines include:-Geographic information systems (GIS)

-Global positioning system (GPS)

-Data modelling, management, and analysis

• Surveying
• Mapping

Having innovative geospatial solutions technology software, entities can drastically increase productivity, saving valuable time, and lowering research costs. The key to success is maximizing the efficiency of your mapping and geospatial data information throughout every stage of your project, from idea to completion. Powerful infrastructure specific software streamlines land development projects; creates, maintains, and analyzes maps and geographic datas.

Geospatial technologies and computer systems such as geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) are capable of capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced information attached to a location, such as latitude and longitude, or street location. Geographically referenced information is also known as geospatial information. Types of geospatial information include features like highway intersections, office buildings, rivers, the path of a tornado, the Sydney opera house, etc.

The power of GIS and GPS is the ability to combine geospatial information in unique ways by layers or themes and extract something new. For instance, the analysis might include the location and direction of a highway intersection and the average number of vehicles that flow through the intersection

throughout the day, and extract information useful for locating a business. GIS might include both the location of a river and the water depth along its course by season, and enable to analyze the effects of development on runoff within the watershed.

The Bottom line is that geospatial solutions data helps increase productivity and save time and money by combating high levels of redundancy, inaccuracies, data mismatches, currency issues, and versioning problems that result from siloed information that is not shared throughout the organization or accessed by all applications that can Utilize geospatial information. Organizations that have successful geospatial solutions in place can fully harness the power of their data by bridging the gap between engineering and GIS departments and the rest of the organization.

From planning through design, construction, and maintenance, having the correct geospatial solutions in place will deliver the most powerful data interoperability and a fully integrated platform for management of an entities spatial data assets.