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GISBox Official Teams: https://teams.live.com/l/invite/FEAr12sInvEVy4hFQE
Official Teams Group: https://teams.live.com/l/invite/FBAFp0pbqhqlpe1BQI

Contact us to get 7-day Team Plan

In recent years, the term “GIS (Geographic Information System)” has come to be heard in various fields, including urban development, disaster prevention, agriculture, logistics, and even drones.

But, have you ever wondered, “What is GIS?” or “It seems difficult…”?

In this article, we will explain the basic structure of GIS and examples of its use in an easy-to-understand manner for beginners. This is content that can be understood by anyone, regardless of whether they are interested in maps or data, or in the humanities or sciences, so please read to the end.

What is GIS? Simply put, it is “map x data”.

Geographic Information System (GIS) is simply “technology that allows you to overlay various data on a map and analyze it”.

For example, you can do the following:

Check on a map what buildings are located in vacant lots

Simulate where areas are likely to flood during heavy rain

Check on a map whether there are any dangerous areas on the way to school

Visualize the population and age groups of municipalities by region

In other words, GIS is a tool that can visualize and analyze all information related to a place.

Basic structure of GIS: What is it used for?
GIS has the following elements:

Map data (roads, buildings, rivers, elevation, etc.)

Attribute data (population, temperature, disaster history, etc.)

Location information (latitude and longitude)

Software (ArcGIS, QGIS, GISBox, etc.)

Recently, SaaS-type GIS that can easily handle these on the cloud has also appeared, and can be used not only on PCs but also on smartphones and tablets.

How to use GIS: Where is it used?

GIS is used in more familiar places in our lives than you might think.

Local governments: urban planning, disaster prevention maps, regional analysis for elderly support, etc.

Logistics and retail: delivery route optimization, store layout planning

Environment and agriculture: crop growth conditions and water resource management

Tourism and events: visualization of tourist maps and congestion status

School education and research: geography and social studies classes and regional surveys

In recent years, the use of “smart GIS” combined with drones and AI has also progressed, and its application in the fields of disaster prevention and construction is expanding.

Recommended introduction to GIS for beginners

If you’re thinking, “I want to try it, but it seems difficult…”, don’t worry.

Nowadays, there are more and more services that are easy for beginners to use, such as free GIS software (e.g. QGIS) and cloud-based GIS (e.g. GISBox) that support how to use it.

Recommended ways to get started:

Watch introductory articles and tutorial videos on the web for GIS

Try using open data (provided by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan and local governments)

Try operating a SaaS-type GIS like GISBox

Try creating a simple map with a local issue as the theme

Summary: GIS is a “map of the future” that anyone can use

GIS is not just a tool for experts.

People who want to visualize local issues, people who aim to create disaster-resistant towns, people who are exploring new business possibilities…it can be a powerful tool for anyone to gain a “spatial perspective”.

If you think “maps might be interesting”, take this opportunity to take a look at the world of GIS.

Explore the Realm of GIS: Your Initial Navigational Handbook