How its Started?
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) began to emerge in the 1960s and 1970s, as computer technology advanced and it became possible to store, process, and analyze large amounts of spatial data. One of the earliest applications of GIS was in land-use planning and resource management, as it allowed for the creation of maps and the analysis of spatial data to help visualize and understand patterns and relationships in the data.
The use of GIS has since expanded to a wide range of fields, including agriculture, forestry, urban planning, transportation, health care, and many others. Today, GIS is used to help make informed decisions in a variety of fields by providing a way to visualize and analyze spatial data. It is also used to create digital maps and 3D models, and to support location-based services and applications such as navigation systems and location-based social media.
Stages of GIS Development
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology has evolved over time, as advances in computer hardware and software have made it possible to store, process, and analyze increasingly large and complex datasets.
Early GIS systems were typically developed by government agencies or research institutions, and were often based on specialized, proprietary software. As GIS technology has become more widely used, commercial software companies have also become involved in the development of GIS technology.
GIS software is now available from a variety of vendors, and can be used to create digital maps and perform spatial analyses on a wide range of data. GIS technology has also been integrated into other software applications, such as web mapping platforms, location-based services, and business intelligence tools.
In recent years, there has been a trend towards the development of open-source GIS software, which is available for free and can be modified and distributed by users. This has made GIS technology more accessible and has allowed for the development of a vibrant community of users and developers.
GIS Before 1960 (Dark Age)
The concept of using geographic information to analyze and understand spatial patterns and relationships predates the development of modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In fact, some historians trace the roots of GIS back to the 18th century, when the French cartographer Jean Baptiste Joseph Delaunay developed a prototype of a GIS to help manage the country’s land resources.
Other early examples of the use of geographic information include maps and atlases, which have been used for centuries to represent and understand the spatial relationships of various features on the earth’s surface. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the use of cartographic techniques, such as thematic mapping and spatial analysis, became more widespread and helped to lay the foundation for the development of GIS.
However, it was not until the 1960s and 1970s, with the advent of computer technology and the ability to store and process large amounts of spatial data, that GIS as we know it today began to emerge. In the early days of GIS, the technology was primarily used by government agencies and research institutions, and was based on specialized, proprietary software. It was not until the 1980s and 1990s that GIS began to be more widely adopted and commercial software became available.
GIS In 1960 to 1975 (Pioneering)
The history of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be traced back to the 1960s and 1970s, when computer technology advanced to the point where it became possible to store, process, and analyze large amounts of spatial data.
One of the earliest applications of GIS was in land-use planning and resource management, as it allowed for the creation of maps and the analysis of spatial data to help visualize and understand patterns and relationships in the data.
During this time, GIS technology was developed by government agencies and research institutions, and was typically based on specialized, proprietary software. Some of the key milestones in the early history of GIS include:
- In 1960, the Harvard Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis was founded, and began developing early GIS software.
- In the mid-1960s, the Canada Land Inventory, a national land-use planning agency, began using GIS technology to manage data about land use and natural resources.
- In the late 1960s, the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) was founded, and began developing GIS software for use in environmental planning and resource management.
- In the early 1970s, the first commercial GIS software, called ARC/INFO, was released by ESRI.
- In the mid-1970s, the first GIS conference was held, and the International Association of Geodesy, Photogrammetry, and Cartography (IAGPC) was formed to promote the use of GIS in mapping and surveying.
Overall, the 1960s and 1970s were a time of rapid development in GIS technology, as advances in computer hardware and software made it possible to store and analyze large amounts of spatial data.
GIS In 1975 to 1990
During the 1970s and 1980s, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) began to emerge as a powerful tool for storing, processing, and analyzing spatial data.
In the early 1970s, the first GIS software was developed at the Canadian government’s mapping agency, known as the Canada Geographic Information System (CGIS). This system was based on the GEOMAP system developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
In the late 1970s, the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) was founded, and it became one of the leading providers of GIS software. ESRI’s ArcInfo software, released in 1982, was one of the first GIS packages to be widely used in the United States.
In the 1980s, GIS technology began to be used in a wider range of fields, including agriculture, forestry, and urban planning. The development of more powerful computer hardware and software made it possible to store and analyze larger and more complex datasets, and GIS technology became more widely available to users.
By the end of the 1980s, GIS had become an important tool in a variety of fields, and it continued to grow in popularity and use in the following decades.
GIS In 1990 to 2010
During the 1990s and 2000s, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology continued to evolve and become more widely adopted. Some key developments and milestones during this period include:
- In the 1990s, GIS technology became more user-friendly and accessible, with the development of easier-to-use software and the availability of commercial GIS packages.
- The growth of the Internet in the late 1990s and early 2000s made it easier to share and access GIS data and maps online, leading to the development of web-based GIS applications.
- In the 2000s, GIS technology was increasingly used to support location-based services, such as GPS navigation systems and location-based social media applications.
- The development of open-source GIS software, such as QGIS and OpenStreetMap, made GIS technology more accessible and contributed to the growth of a community of users and developers.
- GIS technology was also used to support emergency response and disaster management, as it allowed for the creation of maps and the analysis of spatial data to help visualize and understand the impacts of natural disasters.
- The use of GIS technology expanded to a wide range of fields, including agriculture, forestry, urban planning, transportation, health care, and many others.
Development of GIS 2010 to Onward
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have continued to evolve and expand in their capabilities and applications since 2010. Some key developments in the history of GIS from 2010 onward include:
- The growth of mobile devices and location-based services: The widespread adoption of smartphones and other mobile devices has led to the development of a range of location-based applications and services, such as navigation systems, location-based social media, and location-based advertising.
- The rise of open-source GIS software: There has been a trend towards the development of open-source GIS software, which is available for free and can be modified and distributed by users. This has made GIS technology more accessible and has allowed for the development of a vibrant community of users and developers.
- The expansion of cloud-based GIS: Cloud-based GIS platforms have become increasingly popular, allowing users to access and analyze spatial data from any device with an internet connection. This has made it easier for organizations to share and collaborate on GIS projects, and has also made it possible to process and analyze large datasets in the cloud.
- The integration of GIS with other technologies: GIS has been integrated with a range of other technologies, such as machine learning, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT). This has enabled the development of new applications and services that leverage the power of spatial data and analysis.
- The increasing use of GIS in various fields: GIS has continued to expand its reach and impact, with a growing number of organizations and industries using GIS to support decision-making and solve complex problems. Examples include agriculture, forestry, health care, urban planning, and many others.
Evolution of GIS in 21st Centaury
The 21st century has seen significant evolution in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Some of the key developments include:
- Increased accessibility: GIS software is now available from a variety of vendors, and there has been a trend towards the development of open-source GIS software, which is available for free and can be modified and distributed by users. This has made GIS technology more accessible to a wider range of users.
- Improved data management: GIS technology has advanced in terms of data storage and management, allowing for the handling of larger and more complex datasets. This has enabled the use of GIS in fields such as population health, agriculture, and urban planning, where data volumes can be very large.
- Enhanced visualization and analysis capabilities: GIS software has improved in terms of its ability to visualize and analyze spatial data, including the use of 3D visualization, real-time data analytics, and machine learning algorithms. This has led to the use of GIS in fields such as emergency response, transportation, and resource management, where the ability to quickly analyze and visualize data is critical.
- Integration with other technologies: GIS technology has been integrated with other technologies, such as GPS, sensors, and drones, allowing for the collection and analysis of real-time data in a spatial context. This has led to the development of applications such as location-based services, real-time traffic monitoring, and precision agriculture.
Overall, the evolution of GIS technology in the 21st century has been driven by advances in computer hardware and software, as well as the increasing demand for tools to visualize and analyze spatial data in a variety of fields.
Future of GIS
The future of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is likely to be shaped by advances in technology, as well as the increasing availability of spatial data and the growing demand for tools to visualize and analyze this data.
Some possible trends and developments in the future of GIS include:
- Increased integration with other technologies: GIS is likely to become more integrated with other technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things, to enable more advanced analyses and decision-making.
- Greater accessibility and usability: GIS software and tools are likely to become more accessible and user-friendly, making them easier to use for a wider range of users, including those with limited technical expertise.
- Greater use of open-source software: There may be an increased trend towards the use of open-source GIS software, which is freely available and can be modified and distributed by users. This could lead to the development of a wider range of GIS tools and applications.
- Continued growth in the use of GIS: As spatial data becomes more widely available and the demand for tools to analyze this data grows, the use of GIS is likely to continue to expand into a wider range of fields and applications.
- Increased focus on sustainability and environmental issues: GIS is likely to play an increasingly important role in addressing sustainability and environmental issues, such as climate change, natural resource management, and urban planning.
Conclusion
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have a long and varied history, dating back to the 1960s and 1970s when computer technology first made it possible to store, process, and analyze large amounts of spatial data. Since then, GIS has evolved and grown, and is now used in a wide range of fields to help visualize and analyze spatial data, create digital maps and 3D models, and support location-based services and applications.
GIS technology has been developed by government agencies, research institutions, and commercial software companies, and is now available from a variety of vendors. In recent years, there has been a trend towards the development of open-source GIS software, which has made GIS technology more accessible and has allowed for the development of a vibrant community of users and developers.
Overall, the history of GIS reflects the ongoing evolution of computer technology and the increasing importance of spatial data in our world.