GIS in Business

GIS in business is typically used for resource management, or decision making and problem solving. Originally GIS was more applicable and tailored to scientific research, but improvements in computer hardware and software, as well as the digitalization of the business world (especially computers in the workplace), and more accessible GIS data have made business/resource management applications possible.

Key Developments
The shift from scientific research to business can be traced back to several key developments, most taking place from 1990 to the present.


 * Standardization of computer use in the workplace circa 1990
 * Emergence of multiple GIS software choices (1975-1990)
 * Creation of Distributed Geographic Information Systems
 * Increase in remote sensing data collection and the ability to use it in a GIS
 * The passing of creation of the Freedom of Information Act or FOIA (1967)
 * The creation of the Open Geospatial Consortium or Open GIS Consortium (1994)
 * (Both the FOIA and the OGC contributed to the current open source data boom circa 2010)
 * Discontinuing Selective Availability for GPS (2000)

Current Applications

 * Geographic Information Systems for Transportation (GIS-T)