What Is GIS? An Introduction to Geographical Information Systems

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are changing the way we understand and interact with our world. From city planning to climate research, GIS supports smarter decisions through the power of spatial data. In this article, you’ll discover what GIS is, how it works, why it matters, and how you can get started with it.

What Is GIS?

GIS, short for Geographic Information Systems, is a technology framework used to capture, manage, analyze, and visualize data tied to physical locations. It allows users to layer information on maps, making it easier to see patterns, relationships, and trends that wouldn’t be obvious in a spreadsheet or standalone report.

From mapping infrastructure to modeling ecological change, GIS brings a spatial dimension to data analysis. This geographic context empowers everyone from urban planners and environmental scientists to emergency responders and transportation engineers to work smarter and respond faster.

What Is GIS Data?

At its core, GIS is powered by data—and not just any data, but data connected to specific locations. GIS data is generally made up of two parts: spatial data, which tells you where something is, and attribute data, which tells you what it is. These datasets are vast and varied. They include information on buildings and infrastructure, roads and transit systems, land elevation, and terrain features.

GIS also pulls in ecological and environmental data, such as vegetation cover or flood zones, as well as social and demographic insights like population density, income levels, or voting patterns. This blend of spatial and descriptive data allows GIS users to build detailed, actionable maps and models that represent the real world—and help shape decisions about the future.

Why Is GIS Important?

GIS has become a cornerstone technology in fields where spatial context matters. Governments use it to guide urban development, manage public works, and respond to emergencies. Conservationists rely on GIS to track environmental changes, protect natural habitats, and model climate impacts. Public health agencies use it to trace the spread of disease or allocate resources during crises.

According to Esri, a leading provider of GIS technology, key real-world applications include city planning, disaster response, environmental monitoring, utility management, and transportation analysis. In each case, GIS provides the tools to move from static maps to dynamic decision-making, enabling smarter, faster, and more informed actions.

Benefits of GIS

While the use cases of GIS often focus on pre-design assessment and base mapping, the benefits are also available in day-to-day project work. Design professionals, engineers, and planners use GIS to improve the accuracy of their data and the quality of their decisions. It simplifies collaboration by providing a shared visual language and a common geoposition that removes previously found technical boundaries.

GIS also improves workflow efficiency. It reduces redundancy, streamlines data collection, and enables real-time visualization, which helps teams spot issues early and respond effectively. With GIS, even complex projects become more manageable because information is centralized, visual, and grounded in location. This brings clarity, precision, and context to every phase of a project.

One major advantage of GIS technology is its ability to guide pre-design site analysis and base plan assembly by integrating spatial data layers — such as topography, hydrology, vegetation, infrastructure, and zoning regulations — into a single platform. This allows you to assess site constraints and opportunities more efficiently, identify environmental sensitivities or development risks early on, and build a comprehensive base plan grounded in real-world data.

GIS and BIM

GIS and Building Information Modeling (BIM) are two powerful tools that, when integrated, can deliver a deeper understanding of both the built environment and its broader context. While GIS offers a big-picture view by analyzing geographic and environmental data, BIM focuses on the fine details of design, construction, and operation.

When combined, these systems create a comprehensive perspective, linking the macro scale of infrastructure and terrain with the micro scale of materials, systems, and design intent. This fusion supports smarter planning, better coordination across teams, and more sustainable outcomes.

Interestingly, the "I" in "BIM" and the "I" in "GIS" both stand for "information," which speaks to how well the two work together. 

How to Learn GIS

Learning GIS has become increasingly accessible, thanks to a range of online and industry-supported resources. Esri’s Learn GIS platform is a strong starting point, offering tutorials and learning paths for both beginners and seasoned professionals. Massive open online course platforms like Coursera and Udemy also feature GIS training, some of which lead to certifications. Our free course, “GIS Workflows Using Publicly Accessible Data,” walks you through the process of incorporating GIS data into your design projects for deeper understanding.

For those looking to formalize their expertise, the GIS Certification Institute offers the GISP credential, which is widely recognized in the field.

A Brief History of GIS

GIS has been around since the 1960s, originally developed for managing land use and natural resources. Early GIS systems were limited to government and research institutions, but as computing power grew, so did access. Today, GIS is widely used across industries — from architecture to agriculture — and continues to evolve with cloud technology, AI, and mobile integration.

Read the story of NewScape Design, who used Vectorworks Landmark’s GIS capabilities to help create a geolocated map of Sydney for use planning one of the biggest festivals in the world, Vivid Sydney.

Software and GIS

The power of GIS lies not just in the data, but in the tools used to interpret and apply it. Today’s GIS software platforms range from general-purpose mapping tools to highly specialized systems designed for complex spatial analysis. These tools enable users to capture, visualize, and manipulate location-based data in ways that are intuitive, interactive, and scalable.

Vectorworks Landmark integrates GIS functionality directly into its design ecosystem, giving architects, landscape designers, and urban planners access to geospatial data without leaving their design environment. This allows them to bring accurate site information — like terrain models, zoning boundaries, and infrastructure layers — into their projects from the start. In essence, GIS data inside Vectorworks allows designers to make more informed decisions early in the process, ensure regulatory compliance, and better communicate with stakeholders through geospatially aware visuals. Vectorworks Landmark is also known as one of the only programs that integrates both GIS and BIM into its design environment. 

Beyond design-specific tools, GIS platforms like Esri’s ArcGIS provide a suite of capabilities for geospatial analysis, data management, and visualization. ArcGIS is widely used in government, utilities, transportation, and environmental sectors to analyze trends, run simulations, manage assets, and support strategic planning. It allows for robust data layering, remote sensing integration, and web-based collaboration across large teams.

Other popular tools in the GIS landscape include QGIS, an open-source alternative known for its flexibility and strong community support, and Google Earth Engine, which specializes in large-scale environmental data analysis using satellite imagery.

As GIS workflows become more integrated into architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), the lines between GIS and other digital tools like BIM continue to blur. Many platforms like Vectorworks Landmark are now emphasizing interoperability — allowing data to move seamlessly between GIS systems, CAD tools, BIM tools, and 3D modeling environments. This shift is making it easier for teams to align large-scale planning with detailed design, ultimately leading to smarter, more sustainable outcomes.

GIS Workflows Using Publicly Accessible Data

Interested in seeing the benefits of GIS in action? Check out our free webinar that explores a GIS workflow with Vectorworks Landmark. Vectorworks’ GIS tool set provides you with the ability to virtually locate your projects using real-world coordinates; in conjunction with publicly available GIS data, this leads to higher-quality analysis and outcomes for urban, concept, and pre-design workflows.

*Featured image courtesy of PWP Landscape Architecture.*