What connects maps with spatial and descriptive data? GIS.
Geographic Information Systems allow you to link information to specific locations.
Learn what GIS are and where they can be effectively used.
GIS (Geographic Information System).
It is an advanced tool that enables the collection, analysis, and presentation of data related to specific locations on a map. GIS allows processing both spatial data (e.g., the location of roads or buildings) and descriptive data (e.g., population, pollution levels, user preferences), helping us better understand and plan the space around us.
The system works on the basis of base maps, onto which an unlimited number of layers containing various types of data can be added. GIS allows for full use of this data to conduct comprehensive analyses and present reliable evidence supporting research findings.
GIS systems are used:
- to create accurate maps and visualizing phenomena in space,
- to identify problematic locations or sites,
- to analyze spatial relationships between different elements of the environment,
- supporting decision-making processes in urban development, investments, nature conservation, or disaster response.
GIS makes it possible to combine various types of information (for example, residents’ opinions with infrastructure maps), significantly enhancing the accuracy and transparency of decisions.
GIS and well-planned cities
GIS is an indispensable tool for developing efficient and well-organized cities. It allows the creation of multi-layered maps, with each layer containing a different type of information. Using GIS makes planning more precise and effective.
Water companies, local governments, and other institutions can use GIS to quickly identify failures and manage resources, while residents can access up-to-date information about infrastructure works and planned investments.
What’s more, GIS supports the analysis of environmental hazards, such as soil erosion or floods, providing urban planners with the data needed for informed spatial planning.
Private companies also use GIS. For example, insurers analyze flood risk to adjust premiums, while shop or restaurant owners choose optimal locations based on local traffic and demographic data.
These applications show that GIS are useful not only for urban planners and government offices, but also for businesses. GIS is the key to smart and sustainable urban development.
Final conclusions
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) connect data and space, enabling comprehensive analysis of information linked to specific locations. GIS not only allows the creation of detailed maps and visualizations but also helps better understand and manage the environment, plan investments, and engage communities in problem-solving. (see PPGIS)
“When I first heard about GIS, I had no idea how much potential these systems held. Now, with a better understanding, I see how many aspects of our daily lives and the world around us can be better understood and managed effectively thanks to GIS. ”
Weronika JankowiakCommunity Engagement Specialist
The origins of GIS
As early as the late 18th century, the first overlay maps were created, such as maps of troop movements at Yorktown (1781), where different data were presented on transparent layers. In 1832, the first attempt at spatial data analysis took place when Charles Picquet created a map of the cholera outbreak covering 48 districts of Paris.
Roger Tomlinson – Canadian Father of GIS
In 1963, he created the Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS) – the first national GIS designed to cover the entire country and enable land-use analysis. Roger Tomlinson is also credited as the creator of the term “GIS.”
The first SYMAP – a computer mapping program was developed at Harvard.
Precisely in 1964, the Harvard Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis was established there, serving as the cradle of many later well-known systems and companies.
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