Geographic Information Systems and Their Value for Geological Analysis

Jack Dangermond

In the past 5 years, a new technology has emerged for the automated storage, analysis, manipulation, and display of large volumes of geographic information. This new technology, known as Geographic Information System (GIS), consists of a series of generic software tools which run on a variety of computing environments. These tools can be of great assistance in the interpretation of geographic relationships in both map and tabular form. The essence of the technology is that it enables users to build relationships among disparate sets of information commonly stored on maps and information data sets central to the GIS concept and the integration of Data Base Management Software tools for storage, analysis, and manipulation of the data.

This presentation concentrates on the introduction of the generic tools for GIS as well as a variety of applications for which it is used, including land use planning, geological exploration, and thematic mapping.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91038©1987 AAPG Annual Convention, Los Angeles, California, June 7-10, 1987.