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GIS system components
- Maps
- Maps can be considered as the base layer or as a core geographic container upon which subsequent data and analytics layers are built. These GIS maps (containers) can be shared and embedded in applications, enabling smooth collaboration. Maps typically consist of multiple data layers.
- Data
- Vast amounts of today’s data contain a geographic component (for example, Geo Tagged images or videos). GIS are designed to integrate with many kinds of data and use spatial location information to model relationships between disparate datasets. GIS data might include imagery, domain features, 2D and 3D objects, and text-based information that, when combined or aggregated, present holistic geographic insights.
- Analysis
- Spatial data science includes geographic analysis capabilities that enable the user to evaluate suitability and capability, estimate and predict, and interpret and understand. These capabilities lead to new perspectives to insight and decision-making.
- Applications
- GIS includes many components, with end users traditionally consuming information through light-weight applications. GIS developers and spatial scientists require higher computing power, and therefore they tend to use dedicated workstations or servers. GIS light-weight applications are typically accessed using web browsers, on mobile devices and on desktops.