Geographical information system (GIS)

© 2015, Springer International Publishing Switzerland. Geographic Information System (GIS) is defined as a special type of information system that is used to input, store, retrieve, process, analyze and visualize geospatial data and information in order to support decision making, see e.g., Aronoff, Geographic information systems: a management perspective (1989), Tomlinson, Thinking about GIS: geographic information system planning for managers (2007), Longley et al., Geographic information systems and science (2005), Konecny, Geoinformation: remote sensing, photogrammetry, geographic information systems (2003), Burrough, Principles of geographical information systems for land resources assessment (1986), Murai, GIS work book: fundamental and technical courses (1999), etc.Hence, a GIS is basically a computer-based information system for handling spatially referenced data and information.In the early years after its emergence in the mid 1960s, GIS was viewed essentially as a mere tool—a spatial decision support tool