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Home > Geographic Information Systems Overview

What is GIS?
What is Remote Sensing?
Why is GIS important?
Who is using GIS?

What is GIS
All of us, at some time or another, have used maps. Maps help us find our way, especially when we are lost. Maps are also used to display more information than just roads, highways, and interstates. There are maps available that show all kinds of data – rivers and waterbodies, geological regions, demographic data about residents, etc. However, when you use paper maps, you are limited to the data that is displayed on that map. In other words, you can’t find what the average age of residents is on a map that displays geological formations. Geographic Information Systems have changed this. A geographic information system (GIS) is a collection of computer hardware and software that stores, displays, and analyzes geographic data. Because GIS maps are “dynamic” or changeable, you can display whatever data you want to see on a single map.

What is Remote Sensing
Remote sensing, in its simplest definition, is the observation of something from a distance. When you see a person across the room from you, you are remotely sensing them. This is a very simple example, but true nonetheless. In order to gain more information about the world around us, we use remote sensing technology. Remote sensing professionals use tools like aerial photography and satellite imaging to obtain as much information about our world as possible. By collecting remotely sensed data, we can effectively gather a large amount of environmental data instantly – a data-collection feat which may take a considerable amount of time on the ground. In addition, by collecting images over a period of time, remote sensing makes it possible to see how our environment has changed.

Why is GIS important to you?
Whether you know it or not, your life is constantly affected in some way by GIS and RS technology. It may be obvious – you may own a GPS unit to use when hiking or hunting, you may own a computerized mapping program for your home computer, or your or your parent’s car may have a mapping system integrated into the dashboard. However, even if you don’t own one of these systems, your life is shaped each day by GIS/RS!

Has an ambulance, fire truck, or police car ever had to come to your home? Does your family get advertisements in the mail about products and services that you and your family like? Do you have satellite TV? Does anyone in your family farm commercially? If you answer yes to any of these or any number of other questions, your life has been affected by GIS/RS technology. The list goes on and on… GIS and RS are used in almost every career field – retail business, transportation, government, utilities, medicine, economic development, education… So, even if you are not aware of it, your life is affected by GIS/RS technology.

Who is Using GIS/RS?

But, let’s get right down to it… How will GIS/RS technology affect your life and your future? Well, if spatial information is a subject that interests you, you may be interested in a career in GIS and remote sensing. Some important things to know about careers in GIS/RS are:

GIS-related jobs are increasing about 15% per year.
The average salary for a GIS-related job is more than $45,000 per year.
Direct careers using GIS/RS technology include GIS technicians, geologists, GIS/RS instructors, etc.
Indirect careers using GIS/RS technology include 911 operators, architects, engineers, landscape architects, marketing professionals, etc.

It is important to remember that GIS/RS technology affects all of our lives everyday, so career possibilities in this field are endless.