| GIS (geographic information system) technology has | | | | zip code, city, country or address, a set of data will |
| existed for several decades now. GIS refers to a | | | | usually be linked to geographical location. GIS maps |
| system that makes use of computer software to | | | | can be changed and modified at any moment by |
| gather, organize, and analyze data as it pertains to a | | | | removing or adding layers of data. They are dynamic, |
| geographical location. This data is displayed in map | | | | and capable of visualizing changing data in real time. |
| form, thus allowing users to see the correlation | | | | In the past, GIS mapping has been mostly used by |
| between the data and its place of origin. GIS mapping | | | | large companies and government institutions. This all |
| makes use of information from land surveys, aerial | | | | changed with the advent of the portable computer and |
| photos, official statistics and many other sources. | | | | the rapid evolution of portable consumer electronics, |
| By displaying several layers of information in map form, | | | | such as the iPod, ever-improving cellphones, PDAs and |
| GIS can tell us new things about a particular place and | | | | portable GPS devices. By interfacing with |
| its population, infrastructure, land formations, etc. The | | | | GPS-enabled consumer electronics, GIS mapping is |
| data that one inputs into a GIS may include such things | | | | letting people pinpoint their location in real time and their |
| as rivers, mountains, lakes, roads, highways, train | | | | relation to near-by points of interest. In just a few easy |
| stations, gas stations or restaurant. The kind of data | | | | steps, people can calculate routes to the nearest |
| that’s used depends on what kind of analysis you | | | | restaurant or gas station. The possible uses of GIS in |
| are trying to come up with. For example, if you’d | | | | the field of location based services (LBS) for |
| like to find out what types of crimes are more | | | | consumer electronics is continually growing as |
| prevalent in different parts of a city, you might try | | | | hand-held technology develops evermore rapidly. |
| inserting recent crime statistics to get a visual map of | | | | As the mobile technology products arise, GIS mapping |
| the information. GIS mapping helps you see patterns | | | | becomes integrated more and more in consumer |
| and draw connections between data sets and their | | | | electronics. Check out these digital terrain maps when |
| locations. | | | | looking for a mobile phone or laptop on your next |
| The reason GIS mapping works is because most data | | | | purchase. |
| has a geographical point of reference. Whether it is a | | | | |