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What is GIS?

A geographic information system (GIS) is a system of hardware, software, procedures and people, designed to work with data referenced by spatial or geographic coordinates. Basically, a GIS is a system used to explore, analyze, and visualize data stored in a computer database. GIS technology provides a way to combine geographically referenced data with visualization tools like maps.

There are many types of GIS. Pepin County uses an Internet Mapping Server, or IMS, on the website as its form of communicating the GIS database to the public. The website offers people convenient GIS access via the internet, as well as the ability to use the database for the purposes of query (searching for information based on specified fields), analysis and customization of maps. An IMS is a powerful and effective tool for distributing data.

For more information about what a GIS is and its many applications please see the USGS website- http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/gis_poster/

Pepin County's IMS