What is a GIS?

GIS is short for Geographic Information Systems, a fancy way of saying “digital maps”. Ultimately, a GIS is a database with geographic features attached. It allows the data querying that one is accustomed to in the data environment with the added dimension of allowing one to perform those queries spatially and view your results in a map. This is a very exciting time to explore the power of maps and GIS thanks to an ever expanding array of software tools both for the layperson and the expert.