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School of Environment and Life SciencesGeography, BSc(Hons)Geographical Information Systems

Level 3Assignment 1: Review Essay

What is GIS?Academic Discipline, Science, Service or Tool?

Habteab Kidane

1. Introduction

Definitions

What Is GIS?

Chrisman, (1999) stated that ‘many definitions of `GIS' have been proposed, but theyare rarely discussed in the peer-reviewed literature. Most definitions in active usehave serious limitations. Recent literature includes a variety of proposals to redefineGIS by changing the third word.`Geographic Information System (GIS) - Organizedactivity by which people measure and represent geographic phenomena thentransform these representations into other forms while interacting with socialstructures.'There have been many attempts to define GIS that is difficult to select one definitivedefinition.

Heywood et al (2006) states that in general,

‘three possible shorter definitions that give an idea of what GIS is, albeit in a superficial way’; as follows:‘Rhind(1989:28) proposes that GIS is ‘a computer system that can hold and use datadescribing places on the Earth’s surface’.Those provided by ‘Burrough (1986:6): ‘ a set of tools for collecting, storing,retrieving at will, transforming, and displaying spatial data from the real world for a particular set of purposes’, and lastly ‘the Department of the Environment (1987:132):a system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analysing anddisplaying data which are spatially referenced to the Earth

(Heywood et al., 2006).’

Having defined GIS, there seems a problem as any computer acronym on the thirdletter “S” (Chrisman, 1999). In some papers, it is referred to “System” not to“Science” (Wright et al., 1997).Wright et al., (1997), stated that ‘three positions attach several meanings to “doingGIS.” These are (1) GIS as tool, i.e., the use of a particular class of software,associated hardware tools, and digital geographic data in order to advance somespecific purpose; (2) GIS as toolmaking, i.e., the advancement of the tool’scapabilities and facilities (ease of use); and (3) the science of GIS, i.e., the analysis of the fundamental issues raised by the use of GIS (Wright et al., 1997). But for this

particular essay, a great deal of argument has been carried out from several literaturereview on whether GIS as tool versus GIS as Science.

2. GIS as a TOOL

According to the tool definition, GIS is used for problem solving in much the sameway that statistical tests are implemented outside the field of statistics. Therefore itseems logical to expect GISys programs to emphasize GIS as a tool useful for manyapplications. In contrast, GISci programs might have a greater research orientation,involving ‘‘. . .a logical and systematic approach to problems that seek generalizableanswers’’ (Wright et al., 1997, p. 353 as cited in Wikle, & Finchum, 2003).Due to its ability to manage large volumes of data quickly and to readily producespatially-oriented output, GIS has been perceived of primarily as a management and planning tool (Foley, 2002).The definition of GIS has changed over time in response to the broad applications it isnow used for and in response to the definition as viewed through the lens of the enduser (Wieczorek, & Delmerico 2009). Sheppard

et al.

(1999, 811) as cited in Wood,(2005) evaluate ‘what could GIS be?’ to society, envisaging a readily usable tool, or ‘public participation GIS’, which enabled an equitable representation of diverseviews’. Harris

et al.

(1995) as cited in Wood, (2005) also ‘discuss the use of GIS infacilitating community participation regarding equitable decision making in post-apartheid South Africa’. Community groups viewed GIS as a useful tool and weretypically highly positive regarding the potential for community-based GIS mapping(Wood, 2005).Findings do not suggest that GIS offer a ‘be all, do all’ solution tocountryside conservation and community empowerment, rather, that initial researchindicates GIS could offer a practical facilitation tool – developed in partnerships(Wood, 2005).O' Sullivan, (2006) suggest that ‘there is little sign of a groundswell of critical humangeographers wholeheartedly embracing GIS as a tool of their trade even as it becomescommonplace in commerce and government’.Geographical Information System (GIS) can be used as a tool for any discipline whichhandles with data that can be connected with geographical locations, such ascountries, regions, communities, or co-ordinates (Norstrom, 2001).GIS is about to