Geographic Information System (GIS): Introduction to the computer perspective

Despite continuing debate, Geographic Information System (GIS) can be defined as a system for capturing, storing, checking, manipulating, analyzing and displaying Earth- based spatial data. GIS began in 1989 in map perspectives and has sinced evolved into computer-based systems that it is known today. There are several components in the handling of GIS systems including hardware, software, data, methods, and users. Software and hardware are linked together to form a complete component; those who use them will in turn be collectors of Earth- based data transferring them into digital forms before carrying out any information- yeilding analysis. The GIS methods can be divided into spatial data inputing, attribute data management, data exploration, data analysis, and data displaying and outputing. In other words, Earth- based spatial data will be keyed into the computer as soft or digital data and when there are changes, such as in land use in a specific area, the GIS is able to explore and manage the new information. The GIS can even provide benefits to ociety such as in urban planning and cartography, business, environmental impact assessment, and natural resources management. However, there are weaknesses and disadvantages with the system such as its costliness and requiring large amounts of data in order to be doable.