subject: The Value Of Gis Mapping In Community Analysis And Development [print this page] GIS is an essential tool used to analyze local communities for their development and advocacy. Through cognitive GIS mapping, organizations are able to derive better planning and decision-making whether it is for short-term or long-term projects. A simple use of these systems in maps can do wonders for many organizations in community planning, analysis, and development.
Uncovering the Strength of GIS Technology
Picture yourself eating a huge clubhouse sandwich. The different layers of sandwiches - eggs, lettuce and tomato, cheese, chicken, and bacon - are bound together by frill picks or cocktail swords. Without these, it is impossible to enjoy the whole clubhouse sandwich together.
The analogy can be applied in GIS technology when it comes to creating maps. Organizations may need different data for its study and analysis of a community. They may need information like:
Demographics
Customers
Suppliers
Logistics and Constraints
In a way, these data are like different layers of sandwiches. The frill picks that bind these useful information is the geographical information system technology that are used effectively through mapping. The strength of GIS maps lies in its ability to deliver different layers of information in a visual layout to simplify the data. The data gathered are associated, just like the layers of clubhouse sandwich that can be best appreciated when eaten together. When combining the different layers of data, GIS technology ensures that each layer lines up correctly with the others to attain accurate results.
What we Can Achieve in GIS Mapping
Over time, maps have been known to provide quintessential uses for many organizations. Originally, maps were hand-drawn. With modern-day technology, GIS maps are used. Gone are the traditional paper maps that are prone to soil for only a few years. Imposing different layers of information is not also possible.
On the other hand, creating maps using GIS technology proves to be far more efficient. The data is stored in the computer. Maps are derived from different layers of information, that makes them more efficient in many different areas of community studies. Hence, population control can be able to use a particular map that can also be used by crime investigation.
Some of the advantages of mapping are:
Accurate information
Clearer visuals
Useful in decision-making
Reveal patterns and relationships
Easily Interpret and understand the data
Through GIS technology mapping, many community analysts are able to find specific places that contain the exact features they are looking. They are also able to see patterns that help us in their study. Mapping with the use of modern GIS technology allows many analysts to really understand the needs of a community. They will no longer rely to their own imaginations and hand-drawn maps. Thanks to these computer-generated maps, community analysts are now able to simplify data and see things clearer.
