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Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

This Subject Guide provides you with many GIS resources which can enable you to successfully use GIS for your research and coursework.

About This Guide

This guide provides you with a collection of geospatial resources that are available to you from the Freedman Center for Digital Scholarship. The  Freedman Center is the campus hub for GIS resources, including GIS data, training sessions & workshops, virtual tutorials, project assistance, and software support.

This guide will help you:

  • Access GIS software
  • Find GIS data
  • Discover opportunities to learn GIS

What is GIS?

GIS stands for geographic information system. It is an integrated collection of computer software and data used to view and manage information about geographic places, analyze spatial relationships, and model spatial processes.

GIS can be used for geographic analysis, map making, spatial digitization, and geospatial analysis. The Freedman Center offers a rich collection of books highlighting the potential uses of GIS. Such uses include:

  • Study demographics
  • Examine environmental phenomena
  • Identify geographic patterns in data and make predictions
  • Determine the best routes or paths to follow
  • Tie together separate pieces of data to create new information
  • Create and print maps for presentations and publications

Learn more about GIS and see examples of it in action!