As the title suggests, we will take a look at a potential game-changer in the geospatial industry. GIS stands for Geographic Information System. Such systems use computer hardware and professional software to analyze and to convert massive amounts of raw geospatial data into a human-readable format. The technology has found itself beneficial in many spheres of human activities as most of the information has a territorial connection. GIS for environment is a noteworthy example of how beneficial technology can be for infrastructural development.
Where and how it helps?
A geographic information system might be a powerful tool for solving environmental problems through the analysis of spatial data. It’s not a secret that modern human activities have a potentially adverse impact on the environment. The demand for highway engineering, airport construction, pipes installation, waste disposal, and other industrial activities ever-increases in today’s world. Prior to building new infrastructure facilities, it is necessary to analyze the environmental damage it might have and provide relevant reports to local authorities. Geographic information systems can carry out the assessment of such characteristics.
GIS technology also impacts the agricultural industry by gathering agrochemical data from the soil. The system can determine whether there’s a need for machinery and additional equipment or analyze how efficient field workers are. GIS is an effective assistant to modernize the structure of the agricultural industry and regulate resource usage.
Forewarned is forearmed! GIS technology is additionally good as a lifeguard. With its help, it is possible to predict which areas will be exposed to natural disasters and how to mitigate the effects of those in the long run.
Without knowing it, we use GIS every day:
* Weather-forecast. A weather app is installed by default in most modern gadgets. What shoes are good for today? Should you grab an umbrella? People automatically check the forecast daily and to some extent, it has become a ritual. We are able to have this information thanks to the collaboration of GIS and weather stations.
* Gadgets. To date, human life is greatly facilitated by various tools as almost everybody has a smartphone, smartwatch or a fitness tracker. Modern gadgets usually have the location services that are either enabled via the GPS-chip or cellular networking. With today’s digital mapping you just need to specify a destination and zoom through a 3d landscape complemented with imagery. The convenience of this technology made it almost irreplaceable to navigate through unfamiliar areas or finding the right location.
GIS is now fully integrated into our everyday lives and feels like an organic part of it. It is essential for understanding what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen in a geographic dimension. Spatial understanding brings wisdom and with it, we can make better decisions to build a shining future.
