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3. What is a geographic information system?

**What is a geographic information system?**  GIS is a computer system that captures, stores, checks, and displays **information** related to **positions** on Earth’s surface. *The ability to link maps digitally to information enables us to visualize and understand patterns and relationships around us. Geographic information systems, or GIS, provides this link. GIS is a computer system that captures, stores, checks, and displays information related to positions on Earth’s surface. It helps analysts and scientists study climate change, sea level rise, land use planning, business, and even our nation’s defense.*
 You may be surprised to learn how much geography matters in our everyday lives. The ability to link maps digitally to information enables us to visualize and understand patterns and relationships around us. Geographic information systems, or GIS, provides this link. GIS describes a wide variety of computer-aided tools and services that  capture, store, check, and display information related to positions on Earth’s surface. You probably use GIS every day without realizing it. When you use a smartphone to get directions or to find the closest restaurant  to your location, you're tapping into the power of GIS.   Here at NOAA, GIS is used to map oil spill trajectories, plot the paths of historic hurricanes, view and analyze nautical charts, and understand trends in areas such as sea level change and coastal socioeconomics. Analysts and scientists also use GIS for land use planning, business applications, scientific research, and  even as a tool to aid in our nation’s defense. Explore some of the GIS-related products and services NOAA provides to: Build strong, more resilient coastal communities:
					Sea Level Rise Viewer
					Using the best available science and data, federal agencies developed a sea level rise planning tool to help state and local officials, community planners, and infrastructure managers understand possible future flood risks from sea level rise for use in planning decisions. This, and many other coastal GIS tools, are available from NOAA's Digital Coast.
				
				Prepare for and recover from environmental and natural disasters:
					Environmental Response Management Application (ERMA®)
					ERMA is an online mapping tool that integrates both static and real-time data, such as ship locations, weather, and ocean currents, in a centralized, interactive map for environmental disaster response. Having the latest information in an easy-to-use format provides managers with the data they need to make informed decisions.
				
				
				
				Make navigational charts available as a planning tool to GIS users and coastal planners:
					Seamless Raster Navigational Charts & Web Mapping Services
					NOAA's Raster Navigational Charts are designed for marine navigation, but can also be used as a marine base map by GIS users, coastal and ocean planning staff, and the  public. This service contains 2,100+ charts displayed as a seamless mosiac with updates provided monthly.
				
				Improve data and location precision:
					Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS)
					Surveyors, GIS users, engineers, scientists, and other people who collect GPS data can use CORS data to improve the precision of their positions. The network of 1,800 CORS stations improves coordinates relative to the National Spatial Reference System, both horizontally and vertically, enabling GIS layers collected by different users and at different times to align more accurately.
				
				Explore Historic Shipwrecks and Associated Fish Communities:
					Living Shipwrecks 3D
					Learn about the science behind how NOAA maps shipwrecks and fish, browse historic wrecks to learn more about their unique depths and locations, view underwater photographs, and use a data viewer to explore 3D maps of shipwrecks and associated fish communities.
 **Did you know?** *Each  year, we celebrate GIS Day in November as part of Geography Awareness Week. GIS Day started in 1999 as an educational event for GIS users to showcase their projects that have real-world applications. Opening their doors to schools, businesses, and the public, GIS users and vendors demonstrate the benefits of GIS and how it makes a difference in our society. Today, GIS Day is recognized globally with events occurring in dozens of countries.*  More **Information** GIS Day Geography Awareness Week NOAA Digital Coast Office of Coast Survey Office of Response & Restoration National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science   Get **Social** Social
  **Last updated:** 08/24/23 **Author:** NOAA How to cite this article Contact Us


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