GIS: Useful Tool or Expensive Toy?

Abstract

The relatively new technology known as geographic information system (GIS) has many possible uses for engineers who have projects covering large geographic areas. The many categories of data that can be included in a GIS provide the user with valuable resource data that can be combined with or subtracted from other categories to create entirely new categories. GISs come in two basic forms—raster or vector—and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Raster systems assign attributes to specific ground locations, and the resultant output is in the form of typewriter symbols, while vector systems assign attributes to polygons and have outputs that are visually more attractive. GIS technology is widely used by planners, and use by engineers is increasing. Advances in marrying the GIS software with better graphics reproduction software and increased exposure to GIS have brought about increased use by engineers.