The key word to this technology is Geography - this usually means that the data (or at least some proportion of the data) is spatial, in other words, data that is in some way referenced to locations on the earth. Coupled with this data is usually data known as attribute data. Attribute data generally defined as additional information, which can then be tied to spatial data. An example of this would be schools. The actual location of the schools is the spatial data. Additional data such as the school name, level of education taught, school capacity would make up the attribute data. It is the partnership of these two data types that enables GIS to be such an effective problem solving tool. GISLounge

GIS also includes the use of aerial photography, remote sensing, and GPS to enhance it's ability to help answer questions. GIS is being used at Farmington City to help develop databases and maps of everything from zoning and land use to utility networks and trails. For a list of current GIS projects going on in the city of click here.

GIS software allows a user the ability to overlay numerous map layers on top of one another to create a map that will help answer questions. Below is a portion of a zoning map created with GIS. Notice all of the map layers in the Table of Contents on the left hand side of the map. Only a few of the layers are actually turned on in this example but there are many others that can be turned on and off depending on what the user wants to view. The aerial photography layer is especially useful for measuring distances, locating buildings, tracking change in land use over time and for creating general reference maps.



If you would like to try out GIS for yourself, click here to go to our on-line interactive maps. We have a General Area / Zoning map which allows you to zoom in and out, pan, identify specific parcels and zoining information, measure distances, and create and print your own maps. We also have a cemetary map if you are interested in looking up the location of a deceased persons grave or finding an available grave site.

Additional Resources:

AGRC - Automated Geograhic Reference Center - State of Utah (SGID) data - http://gis.utah.gov/

UGIC - Utah Geographic Information Council - http://www.ugic.info

ESRI - Environmental Systems Research Institute - http://www.esri.com/index.html