GIS
is a rapidly growing technological field that incorporates graphical
features with tabular data in order to assess real-world problems.
This amazing form of technology was developed in 1960, with the
discovery that maps could be programmed using simple codes and then
stored in a computer, allowing for future modification whenever
required. This was a welcome change from the era of hand cartography,
when maps had to be painstakingly created by hand; even small changes
required the creation of a new map. The capabilities of GIS
are a far cry from the simple beginnings of computer cartography.
At the simplest level, GIS can be thought of as
a high-tech equivalent of a map. However, the storage of data in
an easily accessible digital format enables complex analysis and
modeling not previously possible. |