To answer such questions, GIS technology uses a process called buffering to determine the proximity relationship between features. The integration of different data layers involves a process called overlay. At its simplest, this could be a visual operation. Overlaying a floodplain map on a colonia boundaries map answers the question. Visualization For many types of geographic operation the end result is best visualized as a map.
Maps efficiently store and communicate geographic information.
While cartographers have created maps for millennia, GIS provides new and exciting tools to extend the art and science of cartography.