Infrastructure Outlook: Geographic Information Systems: A Tool for Innovative Governing

Geographic Information Systems (GISs) are powerful technology tools used across various sectors, including utilities and commercial industries, to store, visualize and interpret geographic data. Although GIS might seem like a modern innovation, it actually dates back to 1854. Today, GIS is widely used by local, state and national governments for numerous applications such as tracking disease spread (e.g., COVID-19) and assessing the impact of weather events. As new capabilities emerge, GIS is becoming an essential tool for societal advancement. But how did GIS start in government?

The Evolution of GIS in Government

As GIS technology evolves, so do its applications within the government sector. Governments often use current aerial photography to observe changes through time, aiding in municipal development planning. Urban planners, for example, combine location data with other information to conduct high-level analyses using GIS tools. They collaborate with engineering firms and construction companies to plan and maintain infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, green spaces, housing and commercial buildings. Additionally, government departments use GIS to analyze property changes, ensuring efficient and accurate tax appraisals.

One of the earliest uses of GIS in government was for land management and urban planning. By overlaying maps with various datasets, planners could visualize and analyze the spatial relationships among different elements of the urban environment. This capability allowed for more-informed decision-making and better resource allocation. Through time, the use of GIS expanded to include environmental monitoring, disaster response and public health management.

GIS in Municipal Healthcare

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of understanding healthcare infrastructure and population data for managing public health crises. GIS can identify areas with high disease concentration, helping allocate resources effectively to address health concerns and prevent further spread. Johns Hopkins University, for instance, used GIS data to create real-time COVID-19 dashboards, providing insights into global infection spikes from January 2020 to March 2023. This site was visited more than 2.5 billion times. GIS also has been crucial in managing previous health crises, such as the H1N1 outbreak in 2009.

GIS technology enables public health officials to map the spread of diseases, identify hotspots and predict future outbreaks. This information is critical for deploying medical resources, setting up testing and vaccination sites, and implementing quarantine measures. By integrating GIS with other data sources, such as demographic information and transportation networks, officials can develop more effective strategies for controlling the spread of infectious diseases.

The Long-Term Impact of GIS

Natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes pose significant threats, causing land damage, property loss and casualties. GIS plays a crucial role in designing effective relief plans by identifying risks, monitoring damage and saving lives. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) uses GIS to track earthquake data, helping governments understand earthquake patterns and their impacts. This data collection aids in developing disaster-relief plans and mitigation strategies, making it possible to predict and prevent damage from natural disasters.

GIS technology also is used to model the potential impacts of natural disasters, such as flooding, landslides and wildfires. By simulating different scenarios, emergency management agencies can better prepare for and respond to these events. For example, GIS can help identify evacuation routes, locate emergency shelters and prioritize areas for rescue operations. In the aftermath of a disaster, GIS is used to assess damage, coordinate recovery efforts and plan for long-term rebuilding.

The Future of GIS Technology

GIS has become invaluable due to its ability to provide accurate assessments of the world around us. Its capabilities continue to grow, with advancements in AI and machine learning enhancing geospatial data analysis. These technologies help local governments analyze traffic patterns, identify bottlenecks and improve road safety. Ensuring data integrity is crucial for effective GIS use, and blockchain technology is emerging as a solution to maintain data continuity and integrity.

AI and machine-learning algorithms can process vast amounts of geospatial data quickly and accurately, uncovering patterns and trends that might not be apparent through traditional analysis methods. For instance, AI can analyze aerial imagery to detect changes in land use, monitor environmental conditions, and track the movement of people and goods. Machine-learning models also can predict future trends based on historical data, helping governments make more informed decisions.

Blockchain technology, known for its use in cryptocurrencies, offers a way to ensure the integrity and security of GIS data. By creating a decentralized and tamper-proof ledger, blockchain can track changes to geospatial data through time, providing a transparent and verifiable record. This capability is particularly important for applications that require high levels of trust and accuracy, such as land registration, environmental monitoring and disaster response.

GIS in Everyday Life

Beyond government applications, GIS technology impacts our daily lives in numerous ways. For example, GIS is used in navigation systems to provide real-time traffic updates and route planning. It helps utility companies manage their infrastructure, ensuring reliable delivery of electricity, water and gas. Retailers use GIS to analyze market trends and optimize their supply chains. Even social-media platforms leverage GIS to provide location-based services and targeted advertising.

In the transportation sector, GIS is used to design and manage public transit systems, optimize logistics operations and improve road safety. By analyzing traffic patterns and accident data, transportation planners can identify problem areas and implement measures to reduce congestion and enhance safety. GIS also supports the development of smart cities, where interconnected systems use real-time data to improve urban living conditions.

In agriculture, GIS helps farmers monitor crop health, manage irrigation systems, and optimize the use of fertilizers and pesticides. By integrating GIS with other technologies, such as drones and sensors, farmers can increase productivity and reduce environmental impact. GIS also plays a role in conservation efforts, helping to protect endangered species and manage natural resources sustainably.

The Future of GIS

As GIS technology continues to evolve, its applications will expand even further. Emerging technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), 5G networks and augmented reality, will create new opportunities for GIS to enhance our understanding of the world. For example, IoT devices can collect real-time data on environmental conditions, infrastructure performance and human activities, feeding this information into GISs for analysis and visualization.

5G networks will enable faster and more-reliable data transmission, supporting the development of advanced GIS applications that require real-time processing and high-resolution imagery. Augmented reality can overlay geospatial information onto the physical world, providing users with intuitive and immersive ways to interact with GIS data.

GIS has found a home across various industries and sectors, making it difficult to imagine a world in which it doesn’t exist. It has redefined the way we look at the distribution of healthcare resources, been leveraged as a predictive tool in the face of natural disasters and supported relief efforts in some of the United States’ darkest moments. GIS continues to prove its worth with exceptional promise for continued advancement.