What is the geographical information system?
Geographic information system can be many different things. In its core it is any method of cataloging, monitoring or using geographical information for a specific purpose. This could literally be anything from using the ground shape to predict weather patterns only after finding lines of properties that navigation in the forest with a global positioning system (GPS). The most common meaning for the geographical information system is the computer model of the specific field area in real life. These systems usually contain negographic information on the soil they cover.
The modern geographical information system was created during the sixties. The Canadian Ministry of Forestry and Rural Development has developed the Canadian Geographic Information System (CGIS) into the Catalog of Rural areas of the Canadian wilderness. They wanted these maps to show not only topographic information, but also other data regarding the life of plants and animals in these areas. From this dams interactive details were difficult at the paperMaps were used in their place. Since the information in the system is representative for actual places, it is important that the information is and current. This means that any information entered in the system must come from a verified source or be checked against multiple existing resources in terms of accuracy.
The data entered in the geographical information system usually comes from one of the three sources. For current systems, many governments maintain basic geographical information in publicly accessible databases. If such information is not available, local maps are often scanned and digitally inserted into systems. The last common method is through global information systems such as a global navigation satellite system or GPS. These systems use digital information by default, so they can often enter their data directly into the dataabasi.
The current increase in web mapping websites has created a change in the way people look at geographical information systems. These web applications, such as Google Maps, have free and open geographical information to anyone who wants it. With a standard application programming interface, data can be used in this web systems to create individual geographic systems. Since mapping is outside the program, web maps updates are also updating the program.
The prevalence of publicly accessible geographical information systems in conjunction with publicly available government records has created its share of controversy. Mash-up mapping programs can be discarded areas that have disproportionately high or low crime, education or income. Many groups of guard dogs fee that this level of availability was not the original intention of these systems and began to take steps towards their legislation more closely.