Component of GIS

Component of GIS:
1. Hardware: Hardware is the computer system on which a GIS operates.
2. Software: GIS software provides the functions and tools needed to store, analyze, and display geographic information.
3. Data A GIS can integrate spatial data with other existing data resources, often stored in a corporate DBMS.
4. People GIS users range from technical specialists who design and maintain the system to those who use it to help them perform their everyday work.
5. Methods A successful GIS operates according to a well-designed implementation plan and business rules, which are the models and operating practices unique to each organization.

The Major Areas of GIS Application:

Local Government

• Public works/infrastructure management (roads, water, sewer)
• Planning and environmental management
• property records and appraisal
Real Estate and Marketing

• Retail site selection, site evaluation
Public safety and defense

• Crime analysis, fire prevention, emergency management, military/defense
Natural resource exploration/extraction

• Petroleum, minerals, quarrying
Transportation

• Airline route planning, transportation planning/modeling
Public health and epidemiology
The Geospatial Industry

• Data development, application development, programming

Examples of Applied GIS:

Urban Planning, Management & Policy

• Zoning, subdivision planning
• Land acquisition
• Economic development
• Code enforcement
• Housing renovation programs
• Emergency response
• Crime analysis
• Tax assessment
Environmental Sciences

• Monitoring environmental risk
• Modeling stormwater runoff
• Management of watersheds, floodplains, wetlands, forests, aquifers
• Environmental Impact Analysis
• Hazardous or toxic facility siting
• Groundwater modeling and contamination tracking
Political Science

• Redistricting
• Analysis of election results
• Predictive modeling
Civil Engineering/Utility

• Locating underground facilities
• Designing alignment for freeways, transit
• Coordination of infrastructure maintenance
Business

• Demographic Analysis
• Market Penetration/ Share Analysis
• Site Selection
Education Administration

• Attendance Area Maintenance
• Enrollment Projections
• School Bus Routing
Real Estate

• Neighborhood land prices
• Traffic Impact Analysis
• Determination of Highest and Best Use
Health Care

• Epidemiology
• Needs Analysis
• Service Inventory

Advantages of GIS

• Exploring both geographical and thematic components of data in a holistic way.
• Stresses geographical aspects of a research question.
• Allows handling and exploration of large volumes of data.
• Allows integration of data from widely disparate sources.
• Allows analysis of data to explicitly incorporate location.
• Allows a wide variety of forms of visualisation.
Limitations of GIS

• Data are expensive.
• Learning curve on GIS software can be long.
• Shows spatial relationships but does not provide absolute solutions.
• Origins in the Earth sciences and computer science. Solutions may not be appropriate for humanities research.