GIS Day 2022: How GIS is Used in Your World Everyday

When creating a map, do you ever think about all the data and analysis done behind the scenes to make the process so simple for you? As GIS analysts, it’s all we can think about, and we can hardly imagine a single day without it!

We live in a world where anyone with internet access, 5 billion users in fact, can use geospatial technology to make or view maps. GIS plays a huge role in creating visuals that tell stories or solve problems. GIS makes it possible to create, manage and analyze map data and is an integral tool for conducting business. Whether you’re evaluating land, analyzing transportation routes, or communicating new projects with the public, GIS technology can be used by experts in a variety of fields.

So, to truly understand the importance of this technology, and in honor of GIS Day, let’s explore how GIS is used across different industries and in your everyday lives.

How GIS is Omnipresent

GIS technology is widespread across all of our lives, even for those who don’t use the technology on a regular basis. A variety of industries utilize GIS and spatial technology including renewable energies, site selection, water & utilities, real estate, transportation, urban and regional planning, and more. Within these industries, GIS software can be used for a wide range of tasks:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of an entire piece of land or property during the site selection process. 
• AEC firms are able to determine elevation changes and wetland locations, as well as identify environmental hazards, flooding, and other challenges during the site planning process.
• Conduct a gap analysis to find holes in amenity service areas (Ex: how walkable are grocery stores in lower-income neighborhoods).
• Understand development trends by visualizing data and gaining insights on specific areas that might be missed in a spreadsheet.
• Use GIS in remote sensing of satellite imagery to map land use, detect land cover changes, and understand vegetation health.
• Determine distances from electric infrastructure and evaluate buildable land across a parcel that’s suitable for solar development.
• Real estate pros use GIS to analyze open land deals for their clients, searching through dozens of listings quickly in order to find the best piece of land.
• Municipalities are easily able to communicate essential information to residents, such as property information and upcoming projects such as a stormwater master plan.
• Foresters and conservationists are better able to control, understand, and analyze natural resource management.

Why We Need GIS

GIS technology provides deep insights into land data, improves communication, increases collaboration, solidifies decision making & enhances project management. Land professionals are able to efficiently manage utility databases, easily communicate data to the general public, perform due diligence from anywhere, and even create standardized nationwide databases. 

When mapping professionals are able to effectively analyze data and share information, they are able to solve some of the most complex problems around the world. 

The benefits of GIS impact countless people and industries by creating solutions and improving daily life.

We’re passionate about making GIS accessible for everyone and ensuring that it makes a positive impact on our customers’ lives and the communities they work with. Contact our customer success team today to learn more about the GIS industry and the Latapult platform.