Geographic information system
Geographic Information System
(jē’ə-grāf’ĭk)
A computer application used to store, view, and analyze geographical information, especially maps.
application
(GIS) A computer system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analysing and displaying data related to positions on the Earth’s surface. Typically, a GIS is used for handling maps of one kind or another. These might be represented as several different layers where each layer holds data about a particular kind of feature (e.g. roads). Each feature is linked to a position on the graphical image of a map.
Layers of data are organised to be studied and to perform statistical analysis (i.e. a layer of customer locations could include fields for Name, Address, Contact, Number, Area). Uses are primarily government related, town planning, local authority and public utility management, environmental, resource management, engineering, business, marketing, and distribution.
GIS dictionary (http://geo.ed.ac.uk/root/agidict/html/welcome.html).
(http://ncl.ac.uk/~ngraphic/wotzagis.html).
(1995-12-21)
Read Also:
- Geographic mile
geographic mile See nautical mile.
- Geographic north
noun 1. another name for true north geographic north The direction from any point on Earth toward the North Pole. Also called true north. Compare magnetic north.
- Geographic-range
noun, Navigation. 1. the distance at which a certain light, as that of a lighthouse, is visible to the eye at a given elevation, assuming that the weather is clear and that the light is sufficiently powerful to be visible from any point at which it appears above the horizon.
- Geographic south
geographic south The direction from any point on Earth toward the South Pole. Compare magnetic south.
- Geographies
[jee-og-ruh-fee] /dʒiˈɒg rə fi/ noun, plural geographies. 1. the science dealing with the areal differentiation of the earth’s surface, as shown in the character, arrangement, and interrelations over the world of such elements as climate, elevation, soil, vegetation, population, land use, industries, or states, and of the unit areas formed by the complex of these […]