What is GIS?

If you’re new to GIS or you’re considering taking a GIS class here at the University of Richmond, you may be wondering what exactly is GIS. In short, a Geographic Information System is many things: people, documentation, hardware, software, and data being used together to answer two main questions: Where and Why? GIS is the primary tool for spatial analysis and is present in a variety of applications, ranging from science to business to history and everything in between. View the videos below for more explanation about what exactly is GIS. And for more information, read these pages from Esri.

What is GIS?

Layers of Asia: A GIS Journey Through our World

Day in the Life: GIS Analyst