“The application of GIS is limited only by the imagination of those who use it.” – Jack Dangermond, president of Esri
Geographic information systems (GIS) have become indispensable for analyzing and visualizing spatial data. While many of us associate GIS primarily with mapping and GPS (global positioning system), its applications extend far beyond these familiar uses. For instance, GIS plays a crucial role in tracking the spread of diseases and is a valuable resource for law enforcement in criminal investigations.
In this article, we’ll look at ten technologies that you might not realize rely on GIS. Let’s dive in!
- Mobile Navigation
Many of us use navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze almost daily — and some of us are permanently lost without them! Have you ever wondered how you get those helpful alternative route suggestions mid-commute?
While GPS can locate you anywhere on the planet, these apps also use geospatial systems to provide real-time traffic updates, route optimization, and location-based services. Grateful for all this information at your fingertips? You can thank the integration of satellite data, road networks, and live traffic information. GIS to the rescue!
- Smartphones and Tablets
Your smartphone is a constant hub of geospatial activity. Beyond just navigation apps, every time you use a location-based service — whether to find a nearby restaurant or track your steps — GIS is hard at work. From Apple’s location-based apps to your favorite social media platforms, GIS provides the real-time data that powers these experiences.
- Fitness Trackers
Wearable devices made by companies like Fitbit and Garmin have transformed the way we monitor our health. These fitness trackers rely on GIS to map our runs, bike rides, and hikes. By combining GPS with GIS, these devices visualize data such as distance, speed, and elevation in real time, helping you track your progress and adjust your workouts for better results.
- Building Information Modeling (BIM) Systems
Modern skyscrapers and smart buildings are engineering marvels, and GIS is integral to their design. BIM software like Autodesk Revit incorporates GIS to create detailed digital models of physical structures. This integration allows architects and engineers to optimize designs based on geographic factors like terrain, climate, and environmental conditions — essential for urban planning and the development of future smart cities. As our cities evolve, GIS will play an increasingly critical role in their design and management.
- Internet Mapping Technologies
Popular mapping software programs like Google Earth, Bing Maps, and ArcGIS Online are only made possible through geospatial technology. GIS integrates and visualizes geographic data online, powering real-time updates, location-based services, and interactive features like zooming, searching, and route planning.
- Content Management Systems
National Geographic’s journalists and writers often use geospatial technology in their content management tools. ArcGIS StoryMaps, for example, is often used by those who work in media, journalism, or education to create interactive, map-based stories. These systems are used not only to present location-specific content but also to visualize complex datasets, track changes over time, and even integrate real-time data feeds into stories – making the narratives both engaging and informative.
- Autonomous Vehicle Systems
GIS technology isn’t just for static data. It also powers advanced dynamic systems like autonomous vehicles. Self-driving cars, such as Tesla’s Model S, rely on GIS to navigate and make real-time decisions. By integrating GIS with GPS and sensors, these vehicles can map and contextualize their surroundings, plan routes, and avoid obstacles, ensuring safe and efficient travel.
- Drone Technology
Drones are popular for both recreational and professional use. What many don’t realize is that drones rely on GIS for navigation, data collection, and mapping. Whether it’s capturing aerial footage or conducting land surveys, geospatial technology helps drones operate accurately and efficiently.
- Remote Sensing
Remote sensing involves collecting data from satellites or airborne platforms like drones. This imagery is then processed and analyzed using GIS to extract valuable geographic information. GIS is crucial for visualizing environmental changes, such as deforestation or urban sprawl, by comparing satellite images over time. This technology is also essential for monitoring climate change and supporting humanitarian efforts.
- Emergency Systems
In critical situations, GIS technology can be a lifesaver — literally. Dispatch systems for ambulances and other emergency services use GIS to optimize routes, ensuring that help arrives as quickly as possible. During natural disasters, systems like the Esri Disaster Response Program (DRP) leverage GIS to provide live, continuously updating data, guiding response efforts and saving lives.
Endless Applications for Geospatial Technology
The applications of GIS are vast and expanding, driving innovation across diverse fields. With today’s user-friendly interfaces marking a significant evolution from the complex software used by GIS specialists in the past, advanced geospatial analysis is now accessible to everyone.
Empower Your Career With Cutting-Edge Expertise
If you’re fascinated by how the modern world uses geospatial technology to improve our daily lives, why not boost your career with The University of Texas Permian Basin’s 12-credit, entirely online GIS and Geospatial Graduate Certificate? UTPB has a decades-long connection to the GIS and geospatial industry and can provide the knowledge and tools you need to integrate GIS into cutting-edge solutions. Best of all, you can study from anywhere in the world — without compromising any commitments.
Geospatial technology is a dynamic field, and GIS analysts are in constant demand. Your expertise can be applied in industries like:
- smart technologies
- biology
- business management
- urban planning
- energy and environmental monitoring
- political science
- sociology
- social media
Step into the future of technology and begin your journey today.
Sources:
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-geographic-information-system-gis
https://gisgeography.com/history-of-gis/