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Geographic Information System (GIS) (Geography 2019) is to be a tool for preparing maps or generating presentation graphics. However, it is much more than that. GIS is an information system which aids the tool to gather data by collection, integration, management, analyzation, modeling and display for a reference to get accurate cartographic representation of an object in space (Chang 2016). Figure 1 provides an overview of GIS being applied around the world across many disciplines, professions and organizations. GIS has different characteristics that can separate it from other information systems. Primarily, GIS is designed for generating maps. These map-displays can be prepared using only a spreadsheet. It includes methods to digitize existing paper maps, collect coordinates of maps through surveying techniques or global positioning systems (GPS) and maps are generated using aerial photograph or satellite imagery maps.
Apart from generating maps, GIS is used to manage spatial datasets, i.e. GIS are spatial database management tools (Perumal et al. 2015). The data management process starts with outlining a link amongst the map and attribute data. The process of linking the attribute data with the spatial coordinates of the map is known as Geocoding. Geographic database is generated by creating the field in the attribute database for the longitude (location X-value) and latitude (location Y-value) of each address, this interdependently combines the map and attribute dataset.
Figure 1.
GIS Applications: Around the world
The GIS provides an integrated environment to deal with the spatial criteria based queries, such as: “How many hotels are there within 2 km?” or “What is the air pollution index of Highbury, London, United Kingdom?”. Additionally, GIS has the edge as it can answer the spatially referenced questions and concepts, such as “contained within” and “next to”, that are usually not possible to answer with anecdotal information or database management systems. For instance, a user can perform attribute data-based queries by objects pointing, polygon definitions, or records selection from a particular distance of a dropped pin, whereas others do not. The GIS provides an integrated environment to deal with the spatial criteria based query. Spatially referenced questions such as “How many hotels are within 2 km?” or “what is the air pollution index of Highbury, London, United Kingdom”. Additionally, GIS has the edge as it can answer the spatially referenced questions and concepts such as “contained within”, “next to” that are usually not possible to answer with anecdotal information or database management systems. For instance, a user can perform attribute data based queries by objects pointing, by polygon definitions, or by records selection from a particular distance of a dropped pin whereas others do not.