New definitions of GIS
As I read the news, especially that from small towns implementing or upgrading GIS systems I’ve seen a shift in the definition offered for GIS. At one time everyone used ESRI’s very broad definition; in fact when I find GIS misdefined I send reporters to GIS.com to that very definition:
GIS is a collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.
That’s getting a bit of a twist in the context of today’s technologies. This from the Pembroke Mariner and Reporter, (MA):
GIS is a computer system that can assemble, store, manipulate, and display spatial information comparable to CAD design systems or Google’s virtual maps. The distinguishing feature of GIS technology is its ability to perform complicated analytical functions and establish connections and relationships between geographical data.
It’s curious that CAD is invoked; is that something everyone has seen and knows about? I would suggest Google’s maps are more well-known though I’m not sure why they are virtual. I do appreciate that this definition distinguishes GIS from CAD and Google Maps; that helps.
