Chapter 1. GIS as a tool
This chapter covers
- What a geographic information system (GIS) is and how it’s used
- The significance of spatial applications
- Trends for pros and opportunities for beginners
- Parts of a GIS web application
Where we are, and our understanding of location, has an impact on our daily lives. Walk around almost any public space and you’ll see people staring at their smartphones, updating their statuses, or looking for the closest taco joint. You may have shopped for a house online, and been able to view homes in your area and even see nearby schools. When shopping for a car online, you can usually limit the search to within so many miles of a zip code. Formerly, a paper map book was essential in every vehicle, but today, drivers keep a GPS (Global Positioning System) on the dashboard or have a system that speaks to them, directing them when to turn. If you’re following directions on paper, chances are you printed them from an online map. Location has become a key component of the way we get many tasks done. A simple map can be a driving force in delivering information, sometimes in the most subtle ways. ArcGIS, a key subject of this book, is a geographic information system (GIS) platform that allows users to work with maps and geographic information. With it, users can create and use maps, gather and analyze geographic data, and use that data in a variety of applications.
This chapter gives you a quick overview of the key pieces of information in this book: