The Geographic Information System 
The GIS is a computer technology that has_ three 
components: the relational database, graphics, and most 
importantly, the user. 
With the GIS, users can analyze geographic data and 
graphically display their findings. 
The GIS can display: 
¢ location -- what is at...? (i.e., place name, street 
address, zip code, latitude and longitude, etc.) 
¢ conditions -- where do they occur? (location where 
certain features are present and certain criteria are met, 
such as soils suitable for mining) 
¢ trends -- what has changed since...? 
¢ patterns -- what spatial patterns exist...? 
# modeling -- what if...? 
