GIS Mapping
GIS Mapping: Types Of Interactive Maps & Applications
Today, monitoring change, making informed decisions, and discovering geospatial trends without using GIS map data is simply not feasible. A GIS map is an indispensable tool when it comes to representing geophysical data about the world on the screen in a dynamic and interactive way. Depending on the problem that needs to be solved, there exists a variety of types of mapping in GIS, ranging from category maps to bubble maps to heat maps.
What Is GIS Mapping?
GIS stands for geographic information system and the map is, of course, a visual representation of quantifiable data. Compared to traditional table maps, a GIS map is dynamic and interactive. It can reveal previously unseen features by highlighting them and show change of these features over time, based on the given attributes.
GIS Map: How Does It Work?
Since human eyes are wired to respond to different colors and shapes, a GIS map usually transforms real-world geospatial data. This speeds up processing of information, which leads to faster and better-informed decisions.
As far as the purely technical side of GIS mapping goes, the system ties a geospatial point containing latitude and longitude to a specific data element. Then a spatial analysis measures the distance between these points and determines the relationship between them, to better understand the planet.
Using this technology, geographers and other GIS professionals can visualize various kinds of statistics, including client base distribution and demand for a product or service, demographic facts, and other data.
Types Of Mapping In GIS
Depending on what exactly needs to be visualized, there are many different types of mapping in GIS. It can be anything from population density to crop classification. Some of the most common types of GIS maps are: category, heat, cluster, bubble, and quantity ones.
What Is A GIS Map Layer
The magic of GIS map layers is that they allow for stacking different types of maps on top of each other on the same screen. This way different layers can intersect and synergize, providing much more information. The user can easily toggle between different layers, without confusing them.
The most basic layer is the so-called GIS base map. Most are familiar with the classic real time satellite view base map. Yet, depending on the specific purpose, any type of data can be used as a base map to build other layers upon it.
