What is GIS?

There are many definitions of GIS.  Some are lengthy and some are short.  Here is a middle-of-the-road description that should help get you pointed in the right direction:
"A geographic information system (GIS) lets us visualize, question, analyze, interpret, and understand data to reveal relationships, patterns, and trends." (Esri)
 A more general, alternative perspective:  A Geographic Information System is a data management and decision making tool that consists of people, software, and data.

What it does...

GIS assists with documenting the real world in digital format with a graphic user interface making it useful for:
  • Locates
  • Overlays
  • Analysis
  • Planning
  • Visualization
  • Maintenance tracking for infrastructure, parks, street trees, pavement surfaces, etc.
  • Inventory to record location, size, material, and other specifications for storm, water, sewer and associated features
  • Traffic sign inventory
  • Winter street sanding priority
  • Tracking pesticide and weed control applications
  • Tracking pruning, pests, and watering
  • Map and measure features in the field, natural and manmade
  • and much more

Who uses it...

Anyone involved in managing location-based  information:
  • City, county, state, federal  governments
  • Planners
  • Assessors
  • Natural resource agencies
  • Health organizations
  • Scientists
  • Businesses
  • Utilities
  • Vintners
  • Farmers
  • and countless others

How it's done...

Over many years and through a lot of research, a widely accepted pattern has emerged for GIS implementation:
  • These phases are necessary for comprehensive GIS systems:  Project Planning; Assessment; Design; Acquisition & Development; Operation & Maintenance (see How It's Done).
  • Some decisions to be made include:  (1) whether or not you want to learn GIS or hire a professional (2) how extensive you want your system to be (3) and if you want to make use of digital forms and maps for planning and maintenance activities.
  • By far, the Acquisition & Development phase is the most time consuming and will comprise the majority of the implementation cost for comprehensive systems.
This list appears short but there are many details involved at each stage. 
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All spatial information can be queried, managed, and manipulated using GIS.