Georeferenced Information Systems

Georeferenced Information Systems (GIS) are a group of programs, equipment, methodologies, data and people (users), all of which are perfectly integrated to enable the collection, storing, processing and analysis of georeferenced data, as well as the production of information generated from their application.

GIS store data geometry and attributes that are georeferenced, i.e. located on the earth surface of a cartographic projection and intend to provide the following main services:

1. Cartographic base maintenance and updating
2. System-modeled cadastral information maintenance and updating
3. Alphanumeric information consultation and research
4. Cartographic profile consultation and spatial analyses
5. Report Generation
6. Administrative process integration

Implementing a Geographic Information System entails meeting some overall stages, which can be defined as follows:

1. Analysis stage: investigation with users of problems and processes to be addressed by the system.
2. Project stage: definition of themes to be interpreted, classes that will build each theme and class attribute that will inform class location and identification, applications and interfaces that should be customized, i.e. technical solutions to be set up in order to meet the analysis stage requirements.
3. Implementation stage: after the analysis stage and system modeling or project it is possible to implement the system model, the graphic and alphanumeric information of which will be stored, as well as to develop applications. Database structures are created at this stage together with storage compartments for files that are part of the system.
4. Data treatment and adequacy stage: database “junction” services are carried out by analyzing contiguous entities on adjacent charts that should form a sole entity because they represent a single geographic object.
5. Implementation stage: SIG is installed and starts operating at the private or public institution’s workplace.
6. Technology transfer (training) stage: usually the last stage in SIG implementation because it is a training period on the use of software and applications that comprise the system, and when new concepts inherent to the implementation of a new systems are transferred.

Geoprocessing systems are software programs that manage the project, comprising a projection system, tables, themes, data accessibility for reading off or handling, and research findings. Those systems involve all applications developed from prior data modeling.

Geoprocessing system applications aim at optimizing tasks. They are customized according to specific needs identified with different users. They are designed using software programming language or even commercial language, where the latter uses external automation to access internal data to control the different software-executed activities.