“In the strictest sense, a GIS is a computer system capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced information, i.e. data identified according to their locations. Practitioners also regard the total GIS as including operating personnel and the data that go into the system.” USGS“A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on earth. GIS technology integrates common database operations such as query and statistical analysis with the unique visualization and geographic analysis benefits offered by maps.” ESRI

“GIS is an integrated system of computer hardware, software, and trained personnel linking topographic, demographic, utility, facility, image and other resource data that is geographically referenced.” NASAGIS has already affected most of us in some way without us even realizing it. If you’ve ever using an Internet mapping program to find directions, congratulations, you’ve personally used GIS. The new supermarket chain on the corner was probably located using GIS to determine the most effective place to meet customer demand.

Components of GIS

This article has briefly explained what GIS is. The next step in understanding GIS is to look at each component of GIS and how they work together. These components are:

Hardware

Hardware comprises the equipment needed to support the many activities of GIS ranging from data collection to data analysis. The central piece of equipment is the workstation, which runs the GIS software and is the attachment point for ancillary equipment. Data collection efforts can also require the use of a digitizer for conversion of hard copy data to digital data and a GPS data logger to collect data in the field. The use of handheld field technology is also becoming an important data collection tool in GIS. With the advent of web-enabled GIS, web servers have also become an important piece of equipment for GIS.

Software

Different software packages are important for GIS. Central to this is the GIS application package. Such software is essential for creating, editing and analyzing spatial and attribute data, therefore these packages contain a myriad of GIS functions inherent to them. Extensions or add-ons are software that extends the capabilities of the GIS software package. Component GIS software is the opposite of application software. Component GIS seeks to build software applications that meet a specific purpose and thus are limited in their spatial analysis capabilities. Utilities are stand-alone programs that perform a specific function. For example, a file format utility that converts from on type of GIS file to another. There is also web GIS software that helps serve data through Internet browsers.

Data

Data is the core of any GIS. There are two primary types of data that are used in GIS. A geodatabase is a database that is in some way referenced to locations on the earth. Geodatabases are grouped into two different types: vector and raster. Vector data is spatial data represented as points, lines and polygons.  Raster data is cell-based data such as aerial imagery and digital elevation models.  Coupled with this data is usually data known as attribute data.  Attribute data generally defined as additional information about each spatial feature housed in tabular format. Documentation of GIS datasets is known as metadata.  Metadata contains such information as the coordinate system, when the data was created, when it was last updated, who created it and how to contact them and definitions for any of the code attribute data.

People

Well-trained people knowledgeable in spatial analysis and skilled in using GIS software are essential to the GIS process. There are three factors to the people component: education, career path, and networking. The right education is key; taking the right combination of classes.  Selecting the right type of GIS job is important.  A person highly skilled in GIS analysis should not seek a job as a GIS developer if they haven’t taken the necessary programming classes.  Finally, continuous networking with other GIS professionals is essential for the exchange of ideas as well as a support community.

• The GIs in the Heroscape Universe is part of the large and diverse Human race. They were American soldiers fighting in World War II when Arch ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIs_(Heroscape)
• The Special Intervention Group (French: Groupe d'Intervention Spécial, GIS) is a special forces group created in Algeria in 1987, initially with 300 members.
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIS(Special_Forces)
• A geographic information system (GIS), also known as a geographical information system, is an information system for capturing, storing, analyzing ...
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GIS
• Alternative spelling of jizz
  en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gis
• Analysis that combine relational databases with spatial interpretation and outputs often in form of maps. A more elaborate definition is that of computer programmes for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, analysing and displaying data about the earth that is spatially referenced. ...
  www.unisdr.org/eng/library/lib-terminology-eng%20home.htm
• Geographic Information System. A computer-based graphics program that allows the superposition of plan-maps of thematic elements, such as roads ...
  forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php
• GIS is a system for creating, storing, analyzing, and managing spatial data and associated attributes. It is a computer system capable of integrating, storing, editing, analyzing, sharing, and displaying geographically referenced information.
  ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/evac_primer/26_glossary.htm
• Geographic Information System. GIS links features commonly seen on maps such as roads, town boundaries, and water bodies with related information not usually presented on maps, such as type of road surface, population, type of agriculture, type of vegetation, or water quality information. ...
  www.bigskyco2.org/whatisit/glossary
• An organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information.
  www.webgis.net/glossary.php
• a computer system designed to allow users to collect, manage and analyze large volumes of spatially referenced information and associated ...
  www.borealforest.org/nwgloss5.htm
• A computer program used to store different types of information and link that information to a specific location. ...
  www.tsarp.org/glossary.html
• A computer-based system for capturing, storing, analyzing, managing and presenting geospatial data.
  pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1206/html/glossary.html
• is the abbreviation for geographic information system. GIS are special-purpose digital databases in which a common spatial coordinate system is ...
  www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/gloss/glossary.html
• Computer-based systems capable of integrating different types of geological and demographic information. ...
  www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/terminology.htm
• Geographical Information System GPRS General Packet data Radio Service GPS Global Positioning System GSM Global System for Mobile ...
  www.tiresias.org/phoneability/bridging_the_gap/app_i.htm

I m Doing MBA From HIMT(PTU)