What is G.I.S.?

A G.I.S. (Geographic Information System) is a system of hardware and software used to collect, manipulate, analyze and display geographic data. The G.I.S. maintains data in specific layers which contain vector and tabular data about geographic features and displays them in relation to one another on a map display.

For instance, a layer may have all burglaries for the month of January. G.I.S. places a symbol on the map for each burglary that took place. This information can be analyzed to see patterns that might be developing.