Definition of GIS Maps

Function

GIS stands for Geographic Information System. According ESRI, one of the premier manufacturers of Geographic Information Systems, GIS is "a structured database that describes the world in geographic terms" using a series of "intelligent maps and other views that show features and feature relationships on the earth's surface."

Geographic Information Systems maps, through electronic layers, provide a variety of information on the location, based on the requirements or preferences of the mapping scientist creating them. ESRI adds to this: "Maps of the underlying geographic information can be constructed and used as 'windows into the database' to support queries, analysis, and editing of the information."

GIS maps take user information and make it useful; or, as ESRI says, "A GIS is a set of information transformation tools that derive new geographic datasets from existing datasets." One example of this occurred shortly after the space shuttle Columbia broke up over Texas in 2003.

GIS was used to model a 12-mile swath, called a base search vector (BSV), of debris falling to earth based on 911 calls in Nacogdoches County. As more information came into the Center for Space Research at the University of Texas, Austin, the swath was extended across 11 east Texas counties within 24 hours of the incident.

Using BSV, the search and recovery efforts continued for more than 3 months and involved more than 180 federal, state and local agencies. More than 30,000 searchers covered the largest ground search area in the world, nearly 1,100 square miles, in recovery efforts.

GIS is information management within a geographic framework. It uses geographic data interactively to provide answers and information, using maps as a dashboard for the work. It uses geographic files and geographic databases, including topographical features, survey information and data from governmental organizations at all levels to undertake tasks like the recovery of the debris from the space shuttle Columbia.

GIS also automates repetitive tasks using geographically-based processing and work-flow models and uses datasets beyond the simple geographic information to provide comprehensive information outputs to the end users.

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GIS maps have a public presence as well as a governmental presence. One of the best known GIS maps is Google Earth. This server-based system allows you to integrate standard GIS data into an interactive map of the planet and manipulate it as needed.

The Google Earth databases include everything from where the nearest fast food joints are located to where the nearest hospital might be. Weather data can be accessed directly from the National Weather Service so that, in time of storm or other natural disaster, you can maintain a real-time watch on events that approach your location.