Seven Reasons to Use GIS

Adapted this from a presentation given to environmental attorneys, consultants, and regulators last year. 'Case study' project examples as well as conclusions are not included in this blog version:

• Reason #1: Better data management & organization
  

Implementing a Geographic Information System for your project (let alone an enterprise GIS for your organization) forces a certain degree of data organization. At the least, it makes the case for a coordinated data management policy self-evident and the GIS software itself begs for data organization. Implementation, and perhaps more importantly administration, of data management best practices are facilitated by built-in data structures and standards in most modern GIS software applications. Important data management practices like coordinated data flagging, qualifying, and validation; and controlling access and logging changes to the data (data security) are more easily achieved using a GIS. And practically speaking, nearly all project data can (and should) be controlled or accessed by a single software application.
Points to take home:
- GIS can handle enormous amounts of data
- Modern GIS applications lend themselves to good data management
- Using GIS throughout a project maintains the data organization and promotes best management practices for data
- GIS can be a valuable tool for QA/QC

• Reason #2: Consistency

Using a GIS (or other data management system) promotes consistency between users and throughout the life of the project. It can maintain consistent access to project data for all users across organizations or among a project team, and hard-coded 'queries' or data definitions and analysis methodologies promote consistency between team members or over time. Scientific or regulatory standards may be coded in as program logic and verified once, then applied consistently even as new data is added, corrected, or expanded. This proves particularity useful in recording consensus decisions to be applied by different parties or as the project matures. In short, being able to exactly reproduce an answer no matter who asks the question or when the question is asked goes a long way toward confidence in the conclusion.
Points to take home:
- A single data repository is critical (Read/write access to this repository may be controlled by GIS application)
- Information may be shared consistently between individuals and organizations
- Common questions and tasks can be coded to make them reproducible
- Consistency promotes confidence

• Reason #3: Instantaneous access to project data

GIS provides a single application platform to view many types of information, whether it is in tabular, image, spatial, or grid format. This flexibility allows users to access most data from a single software interface as well as the ability to query and view those data extremely quickly. Additionally, modern off-the-shelf GIS applications possess flexible user interfaces that allow for different user types and differing expertise (an environmental engineer might have a different data need that a wildlife biologist or homeowner or attorney, for instance). Customizable user interfaces can make it possible for different stakeholders to access the same data in different ways, providing a single interface to multiple data types (and even sources) and multiple types of information.
Points to take home:
- Easy data access & meaningful analysis promote better understanding
- What-if scenarios are easily assessed, strategy explored
- Fast access to all of the data can be an effective tool
- Useful for different individuals

• Reason #4: Thematic display of spatial and temporal trends

Almost by definition, environmental analysis has a spatial component, and can be most effectively understood using spatial analysis. Similarly, most data have a temporal component also, and GIS provides a unique way of demonstrating comparisons between locations and over time. Using GIS to display project information is an extremely effective way to present observations, conclusions, and recommendations to a diverse audience.
Points to take home:
- Unrivaled ability to show spatial trends, temporal change, outliers, exceptions
- Thematic display of spatial and temporal trends (clearly display the data from your point of view)
- Effective tool for explaining to non-experts

• Reason #5: Geographic analysis

Certainly, for many problems, a map is the only way of viewing the data that makes sense. Desktop GIS provides very powerful and sophisticated spatial analysis tools and methods like geostatistics, spatial overlays, buffers, linear referencing, and spatial interpolation that takes geographic analysis far beyond simply plotting data on a map. These methods are mathematically-based and broadly understood in today's scientific and regulatory communities.
Points to take home:
- Unique abilities of GIS open the door for creative solutions
- Capabilities expand with program add-ins, 3rd party applications, new technologies & types of data (satellite imagery, Lidar, radar, Internet)

• Reason #6: Cost-effectiveness

A GIS can reduce costs of repetitive analysis or map production. A project needing periodic maps or new analysis as data is updated will find a cost benefit from a GIS-based data management system.
Points to take home:
- Can improve (and document) QA/QC & data management procedures
- Reduce data management time, mistakes in repetitive project tasks

• Reason #7: The other side is using GIS

Lastly, there is increasing use and understanding of GIS in the world today. Individuals use MapQuest to create custom maps, or use web-based GIS to query retail store locations and view traffic and weather maps on their computers and on TV. Expectations of seeing information displayed thematically and abilities to read maps are growing, so NOT using GIS can be a disadvantage.
Points to take home:
- Increasing use and understanding of GIS
- Useful in developing case strategy
- Ability to show the facts from different points of view
- Very effective data presentation