1. What’s all the fuss…
What’s all the fuss about all this “GIS” stuff? What it boils down to is simply that we care about where things are.

2. Spatial Technologies GIS - geographic information systems
Remote sensing - satellite and aircraft
GPS - global positioning systems
digital photogrammetry
IT - information technologies and computer systems

3. Why GIS? Almost all information has a geographic component
Q: What is this?
Almost all information has a geographic component
The 3 “W’s” of geography:
What is where?
“Geographic”? Or simply “spatial”?
Why is it there?
Why do I care?
A: A tooth! Not all GIS has to be about land.

4. Why GIS? GIS provides potential for Visualization (2- and 3-D)
Communication
Analysis

5. Visualize…
Percentage of children ages 5 to 17 out of 1990 population.

6. Communicate…
The City of San Jose’s
on-line Planning and
Permit page.

7. Analyze… Relative priority of wetlands for restoration and
High Priority
Low Priority
Minimum Riparian Corridor
Priority Ranking
Relative priority of
wetlands for
restoration and
conservation