History of GIS

The Canadian government built the first GIS, the Canada Geographic Information System, during the 1960s to analyze data collected by the Canada Land Inventory. Other governments and university laboratories soon built similar systems. However, GIS programs were not widely used until the late 1970s, when technological improvements and lower costs made computers widely available.

GIS sales boomed during the 1980s as governments and businesses found more uses for the systems. A number of companies began producing new GIS software to program computer systems to increase their functions. By the early 1990s, about 100,000 GIS programs were in operation.

GIS and Economic Growth

As with any database, the greatest virtue of GIS is its analytical power. Utilizing GIS capabilities can help in making financial decisions regarding use. For example, mapping infrastructure such as electrical, water, sewer and telecommunications for the most sustainable locations for growth is an essential economic benefit for any community.

Mapping population demographic data from the 2000 Census can provide potential employers critical information on the work force, education, economic status, age, and other factors to determine suitability of a possible labor pool in a given community. Economic growth can be directly traced to GIS systems and the impact these systems have on the community, city, state, and national levels.

GIS and Domestic Security

GIS technology is critical in supporting our nation’s homeland security efforts. GIS databases have been used for decades to help institutions and businesses at the local, state and federal levels collect and analyze information to make better decisions.

A GIS database is able to:
  • Assess risks to community and infrastructure
  • Establish specific mitigation and protection plans
  • Determine the scale of an emergency
  • Identify and evaluate at-risk populations
  • Expedite and direct rescue efforts
  • Provide accurate damage assessment
  • Prioritize recovery efforts

GIS supports all of the requirements of homeland security by allowing decision-makers to view and analyze appropriate combinations of spatial data. Every government agency, business, private utility, and institution has data that is invaluable to homeland security efforts.