Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing techniques can
provide managers and planners with the visualizing effects resulting from vari-
ous management strategies, under different climatic and operational conditions.
They can be used as analytical tools and can significantly enhance the ability
of researchers and practitioners responsible for investigating water-management
alternatives.
11.1 Introduction
Where resources are scarce, proper planning and decision-making at different levels
is essential. In today's high-tech world, information technology provides easy solu-
tions for decision making, where the key is the collection and collation of different
information at usable format. A geographic information system (GIS) allows users
to bring all types of information based on the geographic and locational component
of the data. GIS provides the power to create maps, integrate information, visu-
alize scenarios, solve complicated problems, present powerful ideas, and develop
effective solutions like never before. More than that, GIS lets one model scenarios
to test various hypotheses and see outcomes visually to find/identify the outcome
that meets the needs of the stakeholders. Now a days, GIS and related technologies
are increasingly being recognized as useful tools for natural resources inventorying
studies and management because of their capability to bring together geographically
referenced data from a variety of subject matters to aid in processing, interpretation,
and analysis of such data.
11.2 Definition of GIS
Geographic Information System (GIS) is computer-based system used to store and
manipulate geographic information. A widely used definition of GIS is “an orga-
nized collection of database, application, hardware, software, and trained manpower
capable of capturing, manipulating, managing, and analyzing the spatially reference
database and production of output both in tabular and map form.” In a more generic
sense, GIS is a tool that allows users to create interactive queries, analyze the spatial
information, and edit data.
11.3 Benefits of GIS Over Other Information Systems
GIS is fundamentally used to answer questions and make decisions. A GIS like
other information systems provides the following four sets of capabilities to handle
geographic data:
(i) Input
(ii) Data management (data storage and retrieval)
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