There is no single accepted definition of Geographic Information
System. G.I.S. is a system of hardware, software, and procedures
designed to support the capture, management, manipulation, analysis,
modeling, and display of spatially-referenced data for solving complex
planning and management problems.
Although this definition is accurate, a simpler definition for a
G.I.S. is one of the following: a computer-based system that links
graphic and non-graphic data (attributes) to a geographic location or a
computer system that can hold and use data describing places on the
Earth's surface.
This data is organized in different layers. This concept is similar
to laying maps of different information of the same geographic area
over one another.
Layers of data that have been produced or are under production are:
- Cadastral (property boundaries, road right of ways, etc.)
- Centerlines
- Control (horizontal & vertical)
- ESN
- Land use
- Orthophoto
- Soils
- Topographic
- Zoning
The Brunswick County G.I.S. project is one of the most comprehensive
G.I.S. implementations in the State of North Carolina. The digital map
data will enhance the quality of county services by providing updated
information efficiently and allowing analysis to be conducted
effectively.