What is Geographic Information Systems (GIS)? According to an ESRI website, a GIS software manufacturer ."..GIS combines layers of information about a place to give you a better understanding of that place." (http://www.gis.com Accessed: 4 June 2004). Put simply GIS is a way to combine and interpret spatial information using technology such as computers.

A website (http://www.geoinnovations.com.au Accessed: 4 June 2004) suggests, most data that is used today has a spatial component or spatial data. Basically this is data with a location. For example it can tell you the land value of certain parcels or land or even things much more complicated like telling you the rapid erosion of sensitive sand dunes. A map is the representation of this spatial information.

The basis of using GIS software is simple however there are many complex parts to it. Basically as was stated before all you are...