(Data West Research Agency definition: see GIS glossary.) A GIS can be distinguished by listing the types of questions it can (or should be able to) answer as opposed to being described: a) through formal definitions, and b) through its ability to carry out spatial operations, and linking data sets together with location as the common key. There are five generic questions that a sophisticated GIS can answer:
1 - Location What is at ...? The first of these questions seeks to find out what exists at a particular location described in various ways (e.g., place name, post or zip code, or geographic references).
2 - Situation/Condition Where does it exist? The second question is the converse of the first and requires spatial analysis to answer. Instead of identifying what exists at a given location, a location is found where certain conditions are satisfied (e.g., an unforested section of land of at least 2000 square meters in size, within 100 meters of a road, and with soils suitable for supporting buildings).
3 - Trends What has changed since...? The third question involves both of the first two, and seeks to find the differences within an area over time.
4 - Patterns What spatial patterns exist? The fourth question is more sophisticated; the question is asked to determine whether cancer is a major cause of death among residents near a nuclear power station or how many anomalies there are that don't fit a predetermined pattern and where they are located.
5 - Modeling What if...? The fifth question is posed to determine what happens, for example, if a new road is added to a network, or if a toxic substance seeps into the local groundwater supply. (Answering this type of question requires both geographic as well as other information, and possibly scientific laws.)
TRENDING
{X-html Replaced}
Editors' Choice
Honest, Objective, Lab-Tested Reviews
PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
© 1996-2024 Ziff Davis, LLC., a Ziff Davis company. All Rights Reserved.
PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate anyaffiliation or the endorsem*nt of PCMag. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant.