“What is GIS?” Maybe you’ve asked that of a coworker and been confused by the answer or possibly you field the question every year at Thanksgiving. Whether you’re new to the industry or been around the block, defining GIS can be a tricky task.

GIS is a way of visualizing your data within a map to help you better understand and use the information you have about a place. What does it stand for? We’ll loop back to that…

Context
Picture your current residence—whether that’s a house, an apartment, an RV, or a condo—got it?

While your mental image is technically where you live, your home by itself doesn’t tell anyone where you live. How many parks are nearby? How accessible are groceries and medical services? What roads are near you and what pipes are under you? What do you have in common with your neighbors?

The answers to those questions can help utilities make sure your power lines are routinely maintained, and companies can discover that your neighborhood could support more grocery stores, gas stations, or dialysis clinics.

Solutions
Using GIS, those problems can be tackled in ways that are visual and automated, with more dependence on systems and software than on pencil and paper. When a utility can see on a map that most of their upcoming repairs are concentrated in one area, they can look for an underlying issue or budget more time and labor in that area. A map is also the best way for a company to realize that while you may be .25 miles as a the crow flies from a coffee shop, there’s actually a lake separating you and your favorite form of caffeine.

That’s why GIS solutions emphasize visuals—great data is meaningless if you can’t make connections or see patterns.

Earlier this year we helped the Western Fire Chiefs Association improve their ability to protect people and land as they fight fires. The web app our team created gathers the best information from multiple sources and displays it on an easy-to-use map. It’s not only helpful for firefighters, it’s also an essential resource for the public, especially during wildfire season.

Defined
And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for—what does GIS stand for? Geographic Information System. But hopefully the explanation above helps you better interpret what those three words mean.