What is GIS?

GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems (or more recently, Geographic Information Science). In simple terms, a GIS is a software package that lets you store, manipulate, create, and analyze geospatial data.

What is geospatial data? It is information in a variety of formats (boundary maps, spreadsheets, digital photographs or maps, satellite imagery, etc.) that has some component letting you know where it is on the Earth.

Earth

NASA's Visible Earth (http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/)

Photo credit: NASA's Visible Earth (http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/)

Introduction

This is a guide to GIS at the University of Maryland Libraries--what software, data, training, and tools are available to you.

GIS Software

GIS software exists both in commercially produced and open-source versions. The commercial options have more functionality but can be expensive. Use whichever one you have or are comfortable with!

ArcGIS
The most commonly used GIS software, and what we use at UM.
Cartographica - GIS for Mac
A relatively new GIS system, for Mac users.
GeoDa
A relatively user-friendly open source GIS.
Quantum GIS
An open source GIS--suitable for PC or Mac and freely downloadable.
GRASS GIS
Another open source GIS option - free and for PC or Mac.
ArcExplorer
ArcExplorer is a lighter weight version of ArcGIS - but it's free!

Comments (0)

What about Google Maps and Earth?

Neither Google Maps nor Google Earth is a true GIS, but they can perform some GIS-like functions (letting you create data, viewing layers, querying). Both are nice tools, and if your mapping needs are simple they may do the trick.