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What Is GIS and How Does It Work? A Complete Beginner's Guide

Writer: Simbi Labs - B.P.
Simbi Labs - B.P.
Jul 28
5 min read

What Is GIS and How Does It Work?


How and what is GIS is one of the most frequent questions that students, researchers, businesses and government organisations ask when trying to grasp modern mapping technology. A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a system that uses a computer to store, analyse, manage and visualize location-based data. GIS is a powerful tool that can help users recognise patterns, relationships and trends that are hard to see when using other tools.


In today's world, GIS is found in a multitude of applications including city planning, agriculture, health, disaster planning, transportation, environmental monitoring, and business intelligence. Simbi Labs offers GIS consultancy services, spatial data analysis, mapping and geospatial solutions to empower organisations to make informed decisions.


What Is GIS?


What is GIS? is a question often asked. GIS is an acronym for “Geographic Information System,” which is a technology that connects geographic locations to information. GIS presents data on an interactive map and facilitates geographical relationships to be analysed, rather than using spreadsheets.


For instance, a city planner can use GIS to calculate population density, road network connectivity and the location of existing healthcare facilities to identify a suitable site for a new hospital.


GIS brings together hardware, software, spatial data, and experts to effectively address real world problems.


What is Geographic Information System?


Geographic Information System (GIS), is a system that collects, stores, processes and displays spatial or geographic information. Each of the records in a GIS database is associated with a location by means of a set of coordinates such as latitude and longitude.


A Geographic Information System allows users to:

  • Store geographic information

  • Create digital maps

  • Analyse spatial relationships

  • Monitor environmental changes

  • Facilitate and inform business and government decision making.

  • Share geospatial information via interactive dashboards


In today's GIS, satellite imagery, drone surveys, GPS, IoT sensors and AI analyses can be integrated.


What is GIS? And How does it work?


The workflow of gis will make it easier to understand what it is and how it works.


Step 1: Data Collection

GIS collects data from various sources such as:


  • GPS devices

  • Satellite imagery

  • Drone surveys

  • Government datasets

  • Field surveys

  • Remote sensing


Step 2: Data Storage

The gathered data is stored in databases with features linked to a geographic location.


Step 3: Data Processing

GIS software is used to clean, organize and prepare data for analysis.


Step 4: Spatial Analysis

GIS uses location information to solve problems like:


  • What areas would be best to develop?

  • What are the areas of flood hazard?

  • Which method of delivery is the shortest?

  • Which areas to target for emergency services?


Step 5: Visualisation

The final results are displayed using:


  • Digital maps

  • Heat maps

  • Dashboards

  • 3D models

  • Interactive reports


This helps organisations to make timely and well-informed decisions.


What is GIS Mapping?


GIS Mapping is what? GIS mapping involves the process of making maps with geographic data. GIS maps are interactive, and have multiple layers of information, unlike traditional paper maps.


Examples include:


  • Population density maps

  • Traffic analysis maps

  • Crime mapping

  • Land-use maps

  • Utility network maps

  • Flood risk maps


Different layers can be zoomed, filtered and analysed to provide valuable insights for users.


What is Geospatial Technology?


The second one is what is known as geospatial technology. Geospatial technology (GST) is the set of tools for acquiring, manipulating, analyzing and displaying geographic information.


It contains technologies like:


  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

  • GPS

  • Remote Sensing

  • Drone Mapping

  • Satellite Imaging

  • LiDAR

  • Spatial Analytics


They complement each other in facilitating the efficiency of planning and operation by governments, researchers and businesses.


Components of GIS

A Geographic Information System consists of five major components.

Component

Description

Hardware

Computers, GPS devices, servers, drones, and mobile devices

Software

GIS software for mapping, spatial analysis, and visualisation

Data

Spatial and attribute data collected from various sources

People

GIS analysts, surveyors, planners, engineers, and researchers

Methods

Standard procedures used to collect, manage, and analyse geographic data


Applications of GIS


GIS is widely used in numerous industries.

  • Urban planning

  • Smart cities

  • Agriculture

  • Disaster management

  • Transportation planning

  • Healthcare

  • Environmental conservation

  • Utility management

  • Logistics and supply chain

  • Market research

  • Telecommunications

  • Defence and security


Its ability to combine maps with data makes GIS an essential decision-support tool.


Benefits of GIS


The popularity of GIS continues to grow because it offers numerous advantages.

  • Improves decision-making

  • Reduces operational costs

  • Enhances resource management

  • Provides accurate mapping

  • Supports predictive analysis

  • Improves disaster preparedness

  • Increases planning efficiency

  • Enables real-time monitoring

  • Simplifies complex geographic data

  • Improves collaboration among departments


These benefits make GIS valuable for organisations of all sizes.


How Simbi Labs Helps with GIS


Simbi Labs offers businesses, researchers, government and organisations professional GIS and geospatial solutions. With the expertise and knowledge of our GIS professionals, we enable clients to leverage location-based information into compelling insights by utilising advanced mapping, spatial analysis, and geospatial technology.


We provide GIS services such as:

  • GIS mapping and spatial analysis/diagnosis.

  • Digital map creation

  • Geospatial database development

  • Remote sensing analysis

  • Survey data integration

  • Location intelligence solutions

  • Custom GIS applications

  • Research and data visualisation

  • GIS, technical support and consulting services.


By combining advanced geospatial technology with industry expertise, Simbi Labs helps organisations understand What Is GIS and How Does It Work? through professional GIS mapping, spatial analysis, and customised geospatial solutions. Our GIS services enable businesses, researchers, and government agencies to improve planning, analyse location-based data accurately, and make informed, data-driven decisions.


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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


1. What is GIS and How does it work?


GIS is a Geographic Information System which collects, stores, analyses and presents information related to locations. It is a tool that uses geographic information and attribute data to produce maps and come up with useful spatial information.


2. What is Geographic Information System?


A Geographic Information System (GIS) is an information management system based on a computer that can be used to analyze geographic data and to generate interactive, digital maps that can be used to inform decision-making in a wide range of industries.


3. What is GIS mapping?


GIS mapping is the creation of digital, interactive maps using geographic and attribute data. It enables users to visualize, analyze and interpret spatial data better than traditional maps.


4.What is a Geospatial Technology?


Geospatial technology encompasses GIS, GPS, remote sensing, drone mapping, satellite imagery and spatial analytics, which are deployed to acquire, process and display spatial data.


5.What is GIS in Surveying?


GIS in surveying is the process of acquiring, organising, analysing and presenting survey data using GIS. GIS can help surveyors to produce accurate engineering plans, topographic maps, property boundaries, layout for infrastructure, and maps of the land, thus enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of the surveying project.


6. How does GIS affect Simbi Labs?


Simbi Labs offers in-depth GIS solutions such as GIS mapping, GIS spatial analysis, digital mapping, remote sensing, spatial database management, location intelligence, GIS consulting and customised geospatial solutions. These services assist an organisation to make informed decisions based on accurate location-based information.

 
 
 

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