Geographical Information Systems

Abstract

A geographical information system ( GIS ) consists of a database of attributes, spatial information, geospatial operators that link the two, user interface, and analytical, statistical and modeling features. GISs have grown rapidly in this century in business, government, and mass consumption markets. Location has become pervasive with mobile devices. By industry, GIS is often applied in natural resources, transportation, utilities, supply chain, agriculture, real estate, newspapers, and banking/finance. The benefits of GIS beyond nonspatial IS are improved accuracy of decision making, recognition of geography in operations and management, improved problem solving through geographic analysis, and ability to geo‐design future solutions.