The Use Of GIS

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DoE (1987: 132) asserts that GIS is defined as a system for capturing, storing, checking, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data which are spatially referenced to the Earth.
GIS has been around the block far longer than the internet and the web, with the first GIS being developed by Roger Tomlinson in 1962. This was used for Canada’s Federal Department of Forestry and Rural Development. Other than for conventionally producing maps, GIS more importantly has powerful analytical functions that translate raw data into information that is useful.(Fu & Sun, 2010)

A great example of GIS software is Arc GIS. It entails desktop GIS, Server GIS, Online GIS, ESRI Data and Mobile GIS. (ArcGIS, 2007)

Being a powerful computer mapping system, desktop GIS is a tool which manages information with respect to its location in space. There are many uses of desktop GIS e.g. businesses can optimize routes of delivery, site future businesses as well as tracking customer locations. Health care specialists can track the spread of a disease. (O’Neill et al, “n.d.”)

Being a GIS program with a reduced GIS functionality and interactive Geographic User Interface (GUI), desktop GIS is used mainly for visualization of GIS data. (Buhmann & Wiesel, 2007)

A good example of desktop GIS software is ArcGIS desktop. It is commonly used to study the trends, patterns and relationships found in the data. With ArcGIS desktop you can integrate and manage your data. (ArcGIS, 2007)

Web GIS is a combination of the geographic information system and the Web has become a swiftly developing discipline since its origins in 1993. (Fu & Sun, 2010)
The internet has helped GIS flourish unlocking the true potential of GIS from laboratories to offices. Web GIS has seen GIS...

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...scalability and performance is needed for the Web GIS. * (Fu & Sun, 2010)
Web GIS can be bought by an organization and can be setup and shared by many users in contrast to setting up desktop GIS for every user which is way more costly than Web GIS.
Intended for a broad audience with little GIS knowledge, Web GIS is easier to use in general terms with desktop GIS intended for mainly professionals of GIS.
When updating GIS, desktop GIS sees the installation of updates into every computer while Web GIS needs one update to work for all clients. (Fu & Sun, 2010)

The 19th century was known for the railways, the 20th century was known for the highways, and the 21st century is known for it being the superhighway of information. Web GIS is on the fast lane of this superhighway growing and improving GIS into something that is beneficial to all. (Fu & Sun, 2010)

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