GIS ANALYST

GIS is computer software that links geographic information (where things are) with descriptive information (what things are like). With a flat paper map "what you see is what you get," but a GIS-generated map has many layers of information for many ways of thinking about a geographic space. For example, if you look at a store represented on a paper map, you see the name of the store and a point noting where it is located. However, if you view a GIS map on your computer, you can click on the same store and see its location, name, annual revenue, customer flow, square footage, product mix, quarterly sales, and the store manager's name. You can even see a photo of the storefront and receive a virtual tour of the facility... GIS can integrate georeferenced imagery as data layers or themes and link them to other data sets to produce geospatial representations of data. These geographical pictures not only depict topographical boundaries, but they also offer special insight to planners..