What is a GIS and how can it help you?
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is, quite simply, a tool for displaying and analyzing crucial information as it relates to a geographic location.
If you’ve ever scribbled notes on a map, added data annotations to a mapping software program, or even maintained a database that contains locational information such as addresses, you’ve created a simple GIS.
Full-featured GIS software programs such as XMap 5.0 GIS Editor provide a quantum leap in efficiency, delivering the ability to organize, query, and analyze your data, and to ascertain the answers you need for informed decision making and comprehensive research.
How is a GIS created?
Typically, a GIS is created by collecting all available and appropriate data, processing it into a usable form, and overlaying the resulting layers on a base map for a given area. This data may be derived from field-collected GPS log files, an existing spatial database, a list of objects with a known location or address, published GIS data layers, or by using object drawing and attribution tools within the GIS software.
When these data layers are in place, they provide a visual perspective that can help answer your fundamental who, what, where, and how questions. For example: Where are the areas of greatest average wind speed? Which properties are adjacent to the project site? Are there specific areas of the state that are more suitable for a wind farm? How close is the nearest access road?
Making GIS accessible
Until recently, the cost of a full-featured GIS was prohibitive. Between software, labor costs and training, many wind energy developers simply couldn’t afford or justify the expense. Today, software and mapping companies like DeLorme are developing GIS products that can run on standard desktop or laptop computers using mainstream database technology with minimal maintenance and training required.
GIS provides significant benefits to countless types of users. Here are some examples related to wind energy management:
- Optimize the placement of wind farms and turbines
- Determine ownership of abutting properties and contact local residents
- Create high quality printed maps for project presentations
- Map newly developed access roads
- Catalog turbine performance and analyze spatial patterns
Virtually all data has some sort of locational component. A well organized GIS can help to expose these geographic patterns and trends providing a deeper level of understanding of the subject at hand.
For more information on XMap 5.0, DeLorme’s easy-to-use and affordable GIS solution, visit www.xmap.com or call 1-800-293-2389
Tags: GIS, Wind Energy, XMap
