A Geographic Information System (GIS) links locational (spatial) and database (tabular) information and enables

a person to visualize patterns, relationships, and trends. This process gives an entirely new perspective to data
analysis that cannot be seen in a table or list format. The five components of a GIS are listed below.

SOFTWARE
01S software provides the functions and fools
1.:sers need to store, analyze, and display

HARDWARE seographlcal Information. The key sollware

components are
• GIS Software
D ATA
The hardware is the computer and • Database Software One of the most important component of GIS
peripherals on which the GIS operates. Today, • OS Software is the data, II is absolutely essential 111at data be
this could be a centralized oomputer server running • Network Software accura1e. The following are different da1a types:
the UNIX or Windows NT operating systems,
a desktop PC, or an Apple Macintosh. The • Vector Data
computer may operate In Isolation or In a • Raster Data

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networked configuration. • Image Data

GIS
· Computers • Attribute Data
• Networks
· Peripheral Devices •
• Printers
• Plotters
• Digitizers

PEOPLE
GIS technology is clearly of limited value without
�pie 10 manage the sySlem and to develop plans
for applying it. Users of GIS range from highly qualified
technical specialists to planners, foresters, and market
METHODS
Methods are well designed plans and application•
specific business rules describing how technology
is applied. This includes the following:
• GuldellnM

•• ..
analysts who use GIS to telp with their everyday work. • Specifications

•'
• Admlnls1rators • Standard•
• Managers • Procedures
• GIS Technicians
• Application Experts
1•
V ,1 ·! "
• End Users
• Consumers ,. • • I . . � \
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