What Are Geographic Information Systems (GIS)? Everything You Need To Know
What Are Geographic Information Systems (GIS)? Everything You Need To Know
It all dates back to the year 1854 when cholera hit the city of London, England. Nobody knew the origin of the disease, which is why British physician John Snow started mapping the outbreak of the disease. During the process, he mapped out water lines, roads, and property boundaries, alongside the disease.
When he added these components to a map, he noticed something unusual but equally fascinating. He noticed that the cases were only along one water line. This was a ground-breaking discovery that linked geography to public health safety. But it didn’t only make the beginning of the spatial analysis. It also led to the discovery of epidemiology — the start of the spread of diseases.
It wasn’t until 1968 when a man named Roger Tomlinson associated modern computing with maps. Besides, he is also the first person to coin the term “GIS” in his study titled “A Geographic Information System for Regional Planning.”
Currently, GIS is a major computer-based tool for storing mapping-related data. In 2014, Roger Tomlinson passed away but will always be known as the “father of GIS.”
