Progress Needed on Identifying Expenditures, Building and Utilizing a Data Infrastructure, and Reducing Duplicative Efforts The federal government collects, maintains, and uses geospatial information—data linked to specific geographic locations—to help support varied missions, including national security and natural resources conservation. To coordinate geospatial activities, in 1994 the President issued an executive order to develop a National Spatial Data Infrastructure—a framework for coordination that includes standards, data themes, and a clearinghouse. GAO was asked to review federal and state coordination of geospatial data. GAO’s objectives were to (1) describe the geospatial data that selected federal agencies and states use and how much is spent on geospatial data; (2) assess progress in establishing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure; and (3) determine whether selected federal agencies and states invest in duplicative geospatial data. To do so, GAO identified federal and state uses of geospatial data; evaluated available cost data from 2013 to 2015; assessed FGDC’s and selected agencies’ efforts to establish the infrastructure; and analyzed federal and state datasets to identify duplication. What GAO Found Federal agencies and state governments use a variety of geospatial datasets to support their missions. For example, after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Federal Emergency Management Agency used geospatial data to identify 44,000 households that were damaged and inaccessible and reported that, as a result, it was able to provide expedited assistance to area residents. Federal agencies report spending billions of dollars on geospatial investments; however, the estimates are understated because agencies do not always track geospatial investments. For example, these estimates do not include billions of dollars spent on earth-observing satellites that produce volumes of geospatial data. The Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have started an initiative to have agencies identify and report annually on geospatial-related investments as part of the fiscal year 2017 budget process. FGDC and selected federal agencies have made progress in implementing their responsibilities for the National Spatial Data Infrastructure as outlined in OMB guidance; however, critical items remain incomplete. For example, the committee established a clearinghouse for records on geospatial data, but the clearinghouse lacks an effective search capability and performance monitoring. FGDC also initiated plans and activities for coordinating with state governments on the collection of geospatial data; however, state officials GAO contacted are generally not satisfied with the committee’s efforts to coordinate with them. Among other reasons, they feel that the committee is focused on a federal perspective rather than a national one, and that state recommendations are often ignored. In addition, selected agencies have made limited progress in their own strategic planning efforts and in using the clearinghouse to register their data to ensure they do not invest in duplicative data. For example, 8 of the committee’s 32 member agencies have begun to register their data on the clearinghouse, and they have registered 59 percent of the geospatial data they deemed critical. Part of the reason that agencies are not fulfilling their responsibilities is that OMB has not made it a priority to oversee these efforts. Until OMB ensures that FGDC and federal agencies fully implement their responsibilities, the vision of improving the coordination of geospatial information and reducing duplicative investments will not be fully realized. OMB guidance calls for agencies to eliminate duplication, avoid redundant expenditures, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the sharing and dissemination of geospatial data. However, some data are collected multiple times by federal, state, and local entities, resulting in duplication in effort and resources. A new initiative to create a national address database could potentially result in significant savings for federal, state, and local governments. However, agencies face challenges in effectively coordinating address data collection efforts, including statutory restrictions on sharing certain federal address data. Until there is effective coordination across the National Spatial Data Infrastructure, there will continue to be duplicative efforts to obtain and maintain these data at every level of government.https://www.gao.gov/assets/d15193.pdfWhat GAO Recommends GAO suggests that Congress consider assessing statutory limitations on address data to foster progress toward a national address database. GAO also recommends that OMB improve its oversight of FGDC and federal agency initiatives, and that FGDC and selected agencies fully implement initiatives. The agencies generally agreed with the recommendations and identified plans to implement them.

The establishment of a BES Multi-User Geodatabase (BES-MUG) allows for the storage, management, and distribution of geospatial data associated with the Baltimore Ecosystem Study. At present, BES data is distributed over the internet via the BES website. While having geospatial data available for download is a vast improvement over having the data housed at individual research institutions, it still suffers from some limitations. BES-MUG overcomes these limitations; improving the quality of the geospatial data available to BES researches, thereby leading to more informed decision-making. BES-MUG builds on Environmental Systems Research Institute's (ESRI) ArcGIS and ArcSDE technology. ESRI was selected because its geospatial software offers robust capabilities. ArcGIS is implemented agency-wide within the USDA and is the predominant geospatial software package used by collaborating institutions. Commercially available enterprise database packages (DB2, Oracle, SQL) provide an efficient means to store, manage, and share large datasets. However, standard database capabilities are limited with respect to geographic datasets because they lack the ability to deal with complex spatial relationships. By using ESRI's ArcSDE (Spatial Database Engine) in conjunction with database software, geospatial data can be handled much more effectively through the implementation of the Geodatabase model. Through ArcSDE and the Geodatabase model the database's capabilities are expanded, allowing for multiuser editing, intelligent feature types, and the establishment of rules and relationships. ArcSDE also allows users to connect to the database using ArcGIS software without being burdened by the intricacies of the database itself. For an example of how BES-MUG will help improve the quality and timeless of BES geospatial data consider a census block group layer that is in need of updating. Rather than the researcher downloading the dataset, editing it, and resubmitting to through ORS, access rules will allow the authorized user to edit the dataset over the network. Established rules will ensure that the attribute and topological integrity is maintained, so that key fields are not left blank and that the block group boundaries stay within tract boundaries. Metadata will automatically be updated showing who edited the dataset and when they did in the event any questions arise. Currently, a functioning prototype Multi-User Database has been developed for BES at the University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab, using Arc SDE and IBM's DB2 Enterprise Database as a back end architecture. This database, which is currently only accessible to those on the UVM campus network, will shortly be migrated to a Linux server where it will be accessible for database connections over the Internet. Passwords can then be handed out to all interested researchers on the project, who will be able to make a database connection through the Geographic Information Systems software interface on their desktop computer. This database will include a very large number of thematic layers. Those layers are currently divided into biophysical, socio-economic and imagery categories. Biophysical includes data on topography, soils, forest cover, habitat areas, hydrology and toxics. Socio-economics includes political and administrative boundaries, transportation and infrastructure networks, property data, census data, household survey data, parks, protected areas, land use/land cover, zoning, public health and historic land use change. Imagery includes a variety of aerial and satellite imagery. See the readme: http://96.56.36.108/geodatabase_SAL/readme.txt See the file listing: http://96.56.36.108/geodatabase_SAL/diroutput.txt

Database created for replication of GeoStoryTelling. Our life stories evolve in specific and contextualized places. Although our homes may be our primarily shaping environment, our homes are themselves situated in neighborhoods that expose us to the immediate “real world” outside home. Indeed, the places where we are currently experiencing, and have experienced life, play a fundamental role in gaining a deeper and more nuanced understanding of our beliefs, fears, perceptions of the world, and even our prospects of social mobility. Despite the immediate impact of the places where we experience life in reaching a better understanding of our life stories, to date most qualitative and mixed methods researchers forego the analytic and elucidating power that geo-contextualizing our narratives bring to social and health research. From this view then, most research findings and conclusions may have been ignoring the spatial contexts that most likely have shaped the experiences of research participants. The main reason for the underuse of these geo-contextualized stories is the requirement of specialized training in geographical information systems and/or computer and statistical programming along with the absence of cost-free and user-friendly geo-visualization tools that may allow non-GIS experts to benefit from geo-contextualized outputs. To address this gap, we present GeoStoryTelling, an analytic framework and user-friendly, cost-free, multi-platform software that enables researchers to visualize their geo-contextualized data narratives. The use of this software (available in Mac and Windows operative systems) does not require users to learn GIS nor computer programming to obtain state-of-the-art, and visually appealing maps. In addition to providing a toy database to fully replicate the outputs presented, we detail the process that researchers need to follow to build their own databases without the need of specialized external software nor hardware. We show how the resulting HTML outputs are capable of integrating a variety of multi-media inputs (i.e., text, image, videos, sound recordings/music, and hyperlinks to other websites) to provide further context to the geo-located stories we are sharing (example https://cutt.ly/k7X9tfN). Accordingly, the goals of this paper are to describe the components of the methodology, the steps to construct the database, and to provide unrestricted access to the software tool, along with a toy dataset so that researchers may interact first-hand with GeoStoryTelling and fully replicate the outputs discussed herein. Since GeoStoryTelling relied on OpenStreetMap its applications may be used worldwide, thus strengthening its potential reach to the mixed methods and qualitative scientific communities, regardless of location around the world. Keywords: Geographical Information Systems; Interactive Visualizations; Data StoryTelling; Mixed Methods & Qualitative Research Methodologies; Spatial Data Science; Geo-Computation.

Snapshot img

Geographic Information System Analytics Market Size 2024-2028

The geographic information system analytics market size is forecast to increase by USD 12 billion at a CAGR of 12.41% between 2023 and 2028.

The GIS Analytics Market analysis is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing need for efficient land management and emerging methods in data collection and generation. The defense industry's reliance on geospatial technology for situational awareness and real-time location monitoring is a major factor fueling market expansion. Additionally, the oil and gas industry's adoption of GIS for resource exploration and management is a key trend. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and smart city initiatives are also contributing to market growth, as they require multiple layered maps for effective planning and implementation. The Internet of Things (IoT) and Software as a Service (SaaS) are transforming GIS analytics by enabling real-time data processing and analysis.
Augmented reality is another emerging trend, as it enhances the user experience and provides valuable insights through visual overlays. Overall, heavy investments are required for setting up GIS stations and accessing data sources, making this a promising market for technology innovators and investors alike.

What will be the Size of the GIS Analytics Market during the forecast period?

Request Free Sample

The geographic information system analytics market encompasses various industries, including government sectors, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Smart city projects, building information modeling, and infrastructure development are key areas driving market growth. Spatial data plays a crucial role in sectors such as transportation, mining, and oil and gas. Cloud technology is transforming GIS analytics by enabling real-time data access and analysis. Startups are disrupting traditional GIS markets with innovative location-based services and smart city planning solutions. Infrastructure development in sectors like construction and green buildings relies on modern GIS solutions for efficient planning and management. Smart utilities and telematics navigation are also leveraging GIS analytics for improved operational efficiency.
GIS technology is essential for zoning and land use management, enabling data-driven decision-making. Smart public works and urban planning projects utilize mapping and geospatial technology for effective implementation. Surveying is another sector that benefits from advanced GIS solutions. Overall, the GIS analytics market is evolving, with a focus on providing actionable insights to businesses and organizations.

How is this Geographic Information System Analytics Industry segmented?

The geographic information system analytics industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2024-2028, as well as historical data from 2018-2022 for the following segments.

End-user

  Retail and Real Estate
  Government
  Utilities
  Telecom
  Manufacturing and Automotive
  Agriculture
  Construction
  Mining
  Transportation
  Healthcare
  Defense and Intelligence
  Energy
  Education and Research
  BFSI


Components

  Software
  Services


Deployment Modes

  On-Premises
  Cloud-Based


Applications

  Urban and Regional Planning
  Disaster Management
  Environmental Monitoring Asset Management
  Surveying and Mapping
  Location-Based Services
  Geospatial Business Intelligence
  Natural Resource Management


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    UK


  APAC

    China
    India
    South Korea


  Middle East and Africa

    UAE


  South America

    Brazil


  Rest of World

By End-user Insights

The retail and real estate segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

The GIS analytics market analysis is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing demand for advanced technologies in various industries. In the retail sector, for instance, retailers are utilizing GIS analytics to gain a competitive edge by analyzing customer demographics and buying patterns through real-time location monitoring and multiple layered maps. The retail industry's success relies heavily on these insights for effective marketing strategies. Moreover, the defense industries are integrating GIS analytics into their operations for infrastructure development, permitting, and public safety. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and 4D GIS software are increasingly being adopted for construction project workflows, while urban planning and designing require geospatial data for smart city planning and site selection.

The oil and gas industry is leveraging satellite imaging and IoT devices for land acquisition and mining operations. In the public sector,

The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles. We converted the photointerpreted data into a GIS-usable format employing three fundamental processes: (1) orthorectify, (2) digitize, and (3) develop the geodatabase. All digital map automation was projected in Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection, Zone 16, using North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). To produce a polygon vector layer for use in ArcGIS, we converted each raster-based image mosaic of orthorectified overlays containing the photointerpreted data into a grid format using ArcGIS (Version 9.2, © 2006 Environmental Systems Research Institute, Redlands, California). In ArcGIS, we used the ArcScan extension to trace the raster data and produce ESRI shapefiles. We digitally assigned map attribute codes (both map class codes and physiognomic modifier codes) to the polygons, and checked the digital data against the photointerpreted overlays for line and attribute consistency. Ultimately, we merged the individual layers into a seamless layer of INDU and immediate environs. At this stage, the map layer has only map attribute codes assigned to each polygon. To assign meaningful information to each polygon (e.g., map class names, physiognomic definitions, link to NVC association and alliance codes), we produced a feature class table along with other supportive tables and subsequently related them together via an ArcGIS Geodatabase. This geodatabase also links the map to other feature class layers produced from this project, including vegetation sample plots, accuracy assessment sites, and project boundary extent. A geodatabase provides access to a variety of interlocking data sets, is expandable, and equips resource managers and researchers with a powerful GIS tool.

Geographic Information System Market Outlook

As per our latest research, the global Geographic Information System (GIS) market size reached USD 12.3 billion in 2024. The industry is experiencing robust expansion, driven by a surging demand for spatial data analytics across diverse sectors. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.2% from 2025 to 2033, reaching an estimated USD 31.9 billion by 2033. This accelerated growth is primarily attributed to the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT, and cloud computing with GIS solutions, as well as the increasing adoption of location-based services and smart city initiatives worldwide.

One of the primary growth factors fueling the GIS market is the rapid adoption of geospatial analytics in urban planning and infrastructure development. Governments and private enterprises are leveraging GIS to optimize land use, manage resources efficiently, and enhance public services. Urban planners utilize GIS to analyze demographic trends, plan transportation networks, and ensure sustainable development. The integration of GIS with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and real-time data feeds has further amplified its utility in smart city projects, driving demand for sophisticated GIS platforms. The proliferation of IoT devices and sensors has also enabled the collection of high-resolution geospatial data, which is instrumental in developing predictive models for urban growth and disaster management.

Another significant driver of the GIS market is the increasing need for disaster management and risk mitigation. GIS technology plays a pivotal role in monitoring natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and wildfires. By providing real-time spatial data, GIS enables authorities to make informed decisions, coordinate response efforts, and allocate resources effectively. The growing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, coupled with heightened awareness about climate change, have compelled governments and humanitarian organizations to invest heavily in advanced GIS solutions. These investments are not only aimed at disaster response but also at long-term resilience planning, thereby expanding the scope and scale of GIS applications.

The expanding application of GIS in the agriculture and utilities sectors is another crucial growth factor. Precision agriculture relies on GIS to analyze soil conditions, monitor crop health, and optimize irrigation practices, ultimately boosting productivity and sustainability. In the utilities sector, GIS is indispensable for asset management, network optimization, and outage response. The integration of GIS with remote sensing technologies and drones has revolutionized data collection and analysis, enabling more accurate and timely decision-making. Moreover, the emergence of cloud-based GIS platforms has democratized access to geospatial data and analytics, empowering small and medium enterprises to harness the power of GIS for operational efficiency and strategic planning.

From a regional perspective, North America continues to dominate the GIS market, supported by substantial investments in smart infrastructure, advanced research capabilities, and a strong presence of leading technology providers. However, Asia Pacific is emerging as the fastest-growing region, driven by rapid urbanization, government initiatives for digital transformation, and increasing adoption of GIS in agriculture and disaster management. Europe is also witnessing significant growth, particularly in transportation, environmental monitoring, and public safety applications. The Middle East & Africa and Latin America are gradually catching up, with growing investments in infrastructure development and resource management. This regional diversification is expected to drive innovation and competition in the global GIS market over the forecast period.

Component Analysis

The Geographic Information System market is segmented by component into hardware, software, and services, each playing a unique role

In this course, you will learn to work within the free and open-source R environment with a specific focus on working with and analyzing geospatial data. We will cover a wide variety of data and spatial data analytics topics, and you will learn how to code in R along the way. The Introduction module provides more background info about the course and course set up. This course is designed for someone with some prior GIS knowledge. For example, you should know the basics of working with maps, map projections, and vector and raster data. You should be able to perform common spatial analysis tasks and make map layouts. If you do not have a GIS background, we would recommend checking out the West Virginia View GIScience class. We do not assume that you have any prior experience with R or with coding. So, don't worry if you haven't developed these skill sets yet. That is a major goal in this course.

Background material will be provided using code examples, videos, and presentations. We have provided assignments to offer hands-on learning opportunities. Data links for the lecture modules are provided within each module while data for the assignments are linked to the assignment buttons below. Please see the sequencing document for our suggested order in which to work through the material.

After completing this course you will be able to:

prepare, manipulate, query, and generally work with data in R. perform data summarization, comparisons, and statistical tests. create quality graphs, map layouts, and interactive web maps to visualize data and findings. present your research, methods, results, and code as web pages to foster reproducible research. work with spatial data in R. analyze vector and raster geospatial data to answer a question with a spatial component. make spatial models and predictions using regression and machine learning. code in the R language at an intermediate level.

Overview

Empower your location data visualizations with our edge-matched polygons, even in difficult geographies.

Our self-hosted GIS data cover administrative and postal divisions with up to 6 precision levels: a zip code layer and up to 5 administrative levels. All levels follow a seamless hierarchical structure with no gaps or overlaps.

The geospatial data shapes are offered in high-precision and visualization resolution and are easily customized on-premise.

Use cases for the Global Boundaries Database (GIS data, Geospatial data)

• In-depth spatial analysis

• Clustering

• Geofencing

• Reverse Geocoding

• Reporting and Business Intelligence (BI)

Product Features

• Coherence and precision at every level

• Edge-matched polygons

• High-precision shapes for spatial analysis

• Fast-loading polygons for reporting and BI

• Multi-language support

For additional insights, you can combine the GIS data with:

• Population data: Historical and future trends

• UNLOCODE and IATA codes

• Time zones and Daylight Saving Time (DST)

Data export methodology

Our geospatial data packages are offered in variable formats, including - .shp - .gpkg - .kml - .shp - .gpkg - .kml - .geojson

All GIS data are optimized for seamless integration with popular systems like Esri ArcGIS, Snowflake, QGIS, and more.

Why companies choose our map data

• Precision at every level

• Coverage of difficult geographies

• No gaps, nor overlaps

Note: Custom geospatial data packages are available. Please submit a request via the above contact button for more details.

GapMaps Live is an easy-to-use location intelligence platform available across 25 countries globally that allows you to visualise your own store data, combined with the latest demographic, economic and population movement intel right down to the micro level so you can make faster, smarter and surer decisions when planning your network growth strategy.

With one single login, you can access the latest estimates on resident and worker populations, census metrics (eg. age, income, ethnicity), consuming class, retail spend insights and point-of-interest data across a range of categories including fast food, cafe, fitness, supermarket/grocery and more.

Some of the world's biggest brands including McDonalds, Subway, Burger King, Anytime Fitness and Dominos use GapMaps Live as a vital strategic tool where business success relies on up-to-date, easy to understand, location intel that can power business case validation and drive rapid decision making.

Primary Use Cases for GapMaps Live includes:

1. Retail Site Selection - Identify optimal locations for future expansion and benchmark performance across existing locations.
2. Customer Profiling: get a detailed understanding of the demographic profile of your customers and where to find more of them.
3. Analyse your catchment areas at a granular grid levels using all the key metrics
4. Target Marketing: Develop effective marketing strategies to acquire more customers.
5. Marketing / Advertising (Billboards/OOH, Marketing Agencies, Indoor Screens)
6. Customer Profiling
7. Target Marketing
8. Market Share Analysis

Some of features our clients love about GapMaps Live include: - View business locations, competitor locations, demographic, economic and social data around your business or selected location - Understand consumer visitation patterns (“where from” and “where to”), frequency of visits, dwell time of visits, profiles of consumers and much more. - Save searched locations and drop pins - Turn on/off all location listings by category - View and filter data by metadata tags, for example hours of operation, contact details, services provided - Combine public data in GapMaps with views of private data Layers - View data in layers to understand impact of different data Sources - Share maps with teams - Generate demographic reports and comparative analyses on different locations based on drive time, walk time or radius. - Access multiple countries and brands with a single logon - Access multiple brands under a parent login - Capture field data such as photos, notes and documents using GapMaps Connect and integrate with GapMaps Live to get detailed insights on existing and proposed store locations.

CrimeMapTutorial is a step-by-step tutorial for learning crime mapping using ArcView GIS or MapInfo Professional GIS. It was designed to give users a thorough introduction to most of the knowledge and skills needed to produce daily maps and spatial data queries that uniformed officers and detectives find valuable for crime prevention and enforcement. The tutorials can be used either for self-learning or in a laboratory setting. The geographic information system (GIS) and police data were supplied by the Rochester, New York, Police Department. For each mapping software package, there are three PDF tutorial workbooks and one WinZip archive containing sample data and maps. Workbook 1 was designed for GIS users who want to learn how to use a crime-mapping GIS and how to generate maps and data queries. Workbook 2 was created to assist data preparers in processing police data for use in a GIS. This includes address-matching of police incidents to place them on pin maps and aggregating crime counts by areas (like car beats) to produce area or choropleth maps. Workbook 3 was designed for map makers who want to learn how to construct useful crime maps, given police data that have already been address-matched and preprocessed by data preparers. It is estimated that the three tutorials take approximately six hours to complete in total, including exercises.

Have you ever wanted to create your own maps, or integrate and visualize spatial datasets to examine changes in trends between locations and over time? Follow along with these training tutorials on QGIS, an open source geographic information system (GIS) and learn key concepts, procedures and skills for performing common GIS tasks – such as creating maps, as well as joining, overlaying and visualizing spatial datasets. These tutorials are geared towards new GIS users. We’ll start with foundational concepts, and build towards more advanced topics throughout – demonstrating how with a few relatively easy steps you can get quite a lot out of GIS. You can then extend these skills to datasets of thematic relevance to you in addressing tasks faced in your day-to-day work.

A major objective of plant ecology research is to determine the underlying processes responsible for the observed spatial distribution patterns of plant species. Plants can be approximated as points in space for this purpose, and thus, spatial point pattern analysis has become increasingly popular in ecological research. The basic piece of data for point pattern analysis is a point location of an ecological object in some study region. Therefore, point pattern analysis can only be performed if data can be collected. However, due to the lack of a convenient sampling method, a few previous studies have used point pattern analysis to examine the spatial patterns of grassland species. This is unfortunate because being able to explore point patterns in grassland systems has widespread implications for population dynamics, community-level patterns and ecological processes. In this study, we develop a new method to measure individual coordinates of species in grassland communities. This method records plant growing positions via digital picture samples that have been sub-blocked within a geographical information system (GIS). Here, we tested out the new method by measuring the individual coordinates of Stipa grandis in grazed and ungrazed S. grandis communities in a temperate steppe ecosystem in China. Furthermore, we analyzed the pattern of S. grandis by using the pair correlation function g(r) with both a homogeneous Poisson process and a heterogeneous Poisson process. Our results showed that individuals of S. grandis were overdispersed according to the homogeneous Poisson process at 0-0.16 m in the ungrazed community, while they were clustered at 0.19 m according to the homogeneous and heterogeneous Poisson processes in the grazed community. These results suggest that competitive interactions dominated the ungrazed community, while facilitative interactions dominated the grazed community. In sum, we successfully executed a new sampling method, using digital photography and a Geographical Information System, to collect experimental data on the spatial point patterns for the populations in this grassland community.

Methods 1. Data collection using digital photographs and GIS

A flat 5 m x 5 m sampling block was chosen in a study grassland community and divided with bamboo chopsticks into 100 sub-blocks of 50 cm x 50 cm (Fig. 1). A digital camera was then mounted to a telescoping stake and positioned in the center of each sub-block to photograph vegetation within a 0.25 m2 area. Pictures were taken 1.75 m above the ground at an approximate downward angle of 90° (Fig. 2). Automatic camera settings were used for focus, lighting and shutter speed. After photographing the plot as a whole, photographs were taken of each individual plant in each sub-block. In order to identify each individual plant from the digital images, each plant was uniquely marked before the pictures were taken (Fig. 2 B).

Digital images were imported into a computer as JPEG files, and the position of each plant in the pictures was determined using GIS. This involved four steps: 1) A reference frame (Fig. 3) was established using R2V software to designate control points, or the four vertexes of each sub-block (Appendix S1), so that all plants in each sub-block were within the same reference frame. The parallax and optical distortion in the raster images was then geometrically corrected based on these selected control points; 2) Maps, or layers in GIS terminology, were set up for each species as PROJECT files (Appendix S2), and all individuals in each sub-block were digitized using R2V software (Appendix S3). For accuracy, the digitization of plant individual locations was performed manually; 3) Each plant species layer was exported from a PROJECT file to a SHAPE file in R2V software (Appendix S4); 4) Finally each species layer was opened in Arc GIS software in the SHAPE file format, and attribute data from each species layer was exported into Arc GIS to obtain the precise coordinates for each species. This last phase involved four steps of its own, from adding the data (Appendix S5), to opening the attribute table (Appendix S6), to adding new x and y coordinate fields (Appendix S7) and to obtaining the x and y coordinates and filling in the new fields (Appendix S8).

1. Data reliability assessment

To determine the accuracy of our new method, we measured the individual locations of Leymus chinensis, a perennial rhizome grass, in representative community blocks 5 m x 5 m in size in typical steppe habitat in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China in July 2010 (Fig. 4 A). As our standard for comparison, we used a ruler to measure the individual coordinates of L. chinensis. We tested for significant differences between (1) the coordinates of L. chinensis, as measured with our new method and with the ruler, and (2) the pair correlation function g of L. chinensis, as measured with our new method and with the ruler (see section 3.2 Data Analysis). If (1) the coordinates of L. chinensis, as measured with our new method and with the ruler, and (2) the pair correlation function g of L. chinensis, as measured with our new method and with the ruler, did not differ significantly, then we could conclude that our new method of measuring the coordinates of L. chinensis was reliable.

We compared the results using a t-test (Table 1). We found no significant differences in either (1) the coordinates of L. chinensis or (2) the pair correlation function g of L. chinensis. Further, we compared the pattern characteristics of L. chinensis when measured by our new method against the ruler measurements using a null model. We found that the two pattern characteristics of L. chinensis did not differ significantly based on the homogenous Poisson process or complete spatial randomness (Fig. 4 B). Thus, we concluded that the data obtained using our new method was reliable enough to perform point pattern analysis with a null model in grassland communities.

The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles. Using the National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS) developed by Natureserve, with additional classes and modifiers, overstory vegetation communities for each park were interpreted from stereo color infrared aerial photographs using manual interpretation methods. Using a minimum mapping unit of 0.5 hectares (MMU = 0.5 ha), polygons representing areas of relatively uniform vegetation were delineated and annotated on clear plastic overlays registered to the aerial photographs. Polygons were labeled according to the dominant vegetation community. Where the polygons were not uniform, second and third vegetation classes were added. Further, a number of modifier codes were employed to indicate important aspects of the polygon that could be interpreted from the photograph (for example, burn condition). The polygons on the plastic overlays were then corrected using photogrammetric procedures and converted to vector format for use in creating a geographic information system (GIS) database for each park. In addition, high resolution color orthophotographs were created from the original aerial photographs for use in the GIS. Upon completion of the GIS database (including vegetation, orthophotos and updated roads and hydrology layers), both hardcopy and softcopy maps were produced for delivery. Metadata for each database includes a description of the vegetation classification system used for each park, summary statistics and documentation of the sources, procedures and spatial accuracies of the data. At the time of this writing, an accuracy assessment of the vegetation mapping has not been performed for most of these parks.

The thesis the data comes from analyses patterns of growth, decline, clustering and dispersal of live music in Sydney and Melbourne between the 1980s and 2000s. It demonstrates the use of historical Geographic Information Systems, combined with interviews, as a methodological approach for understanding the impacts of restructuring in cultural industries. It offers a practical example of applied social research with GIS.

The project developed a novel methodology combining GIS with interviews with music scene participants. A substantial part of the research project comprised the development of a historical geodatabase, leveraging the spatial and temporal data embedded in historical live music performance listings (‘gig listings’) sourced from archived publications in Sydney and Melbourne. This geodatabase ultimately incorporates over 20,000 live music listings and over 2500 geocoded venues.

The historical geodatabase was built incrementally to adapt to the format of the historical data. The structure maintains a one-to-one relationship to primary sources from different publications, allowing for quality checks, but can produce normalised outputs that allow live music venues, performances, and bands to be analysed separately. Outputs from the geodatabase have facilitated the quantitative analysis and geovisualisation of live music data over the study time frame in Sydney and Melbourne.

The GDAL/OGR libraries are open-source, geo-spatial libraries that work with a wide range of raster and vector data sources. One of many impressive features of the GDAL/OGR libraries is the ViRTual (VRT) format. It is an XML format description of how to transform raster or vector data sources on the fly into a new dataset. The transformations include: mosaicking, re-projection, look-up table (raster), change data type (raster), and SQL SELECT command (vector). VRTs can be used by GDAL/OGR functions and utilities as if they were an original source, even allowing for chaining of functionality, for example: have a VRT mosaic hundreds of VRTs that use look-up tables to transform original GeoTiff files. We used the VRT format for the presentation of hydrologic model results, allowing for thousands of small VRT files representing all components of the monthly water balance to be transformations of a single land cover GeoTiff file.

Presentation at 2018 AWRA Spring Specialty Conference: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Water Resources X, Orlando, Florida, April 23-25, http://awra.org/meetings/Orlando2018/

Geographic Information System (GIS) Market Outlook

The global Geographic Information System (GIS) market size was valued at approximately USD 8.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach around USD 16.3 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period. One of the key growth factors driving this market is the increasing adoption of GIS technology across various industries such as agriculture, construction, and transportation, which is enhancing operational efficiencies and enabling better decision-making capabilities.

Several factors are contributing to the robust growth of the GIS market. Firstly, the increasing need for spatial data in urban planning, infrastructure development, and natural resource management is accelerating the demand for GIS solutions. For instance, governments and municipalities globally are increasingly relying on GIS for planning and managing urban sprawl, transportation systems, and utility networks. This growing reliance on spatial data for efficient resource allocation and policy-making is significantly propelling the GIS market.

Secondly, the advent of advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and machine learning is enhancing the capabilities of GIS systems. The integration of these technologies with GIS allows for real-time data analysis and predictive analytics, making GIS solutions more powerful and valuable. For example, AI-powered GIS can predict traffic patterns and help in effective city planning, while IoT-enabled GIS can monitor and manage utilities like water and electricity in real time, thus driving market growth.

Lastly, the rising focus on disaster management and environmental monitoring is further boosting the GIS market. Natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes necessitate the need for accurate and real-time spatial data to facilitate timely response and mitigation efforts. GIS technology plays a crucial role in disaster risk assessment, emergency response, and recovery planning, thereby increasing its adoption in disaster management agencies. Moreover, environmental monitoring for issues like deforestation, pollution, and climate change is becoming increasingly vital, and GIS is instrumental in tracking and addressing these challenges.

Regionally, the North American market is expected to hold a significant share due to the widespread adoption of advanced technologies and substantial investments in infrastructure development. Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the fastest growth, driven by rapid urbanization, industrialization, and supportive government initiatives for smart city projects. Additionally, Europe is expected to show steady growth due to stringent regulations on environmental management and urban planning.

Component Analysis

The GIS market by component is segmented into hardware, software, and services. The hardware segment includes devices like GPS, imaging sensors, and other data capture devices. These tools are critical for collecting accurate spatial data, which forms the backbone of GIS solutions. The demand for advanced hardware components is rising, as organizations seek high-precision instruments for data collection. The advent of technologies such as LiDAR and drones has further enhanced the capabilities of GIS hardware, making data collection faster and more accurate.

In the software segment, GIS platforms and applications are used to store, analyze, and visualize spatial data. GIS software has seen significant advancements, with features like 3D mapping, real-time data integration, and cloud-based collaboration becoming increasingly prevalent. Companies are investing heavily in upgrading their GIS software to leverage these advanced features, thereby driving the growth of the software segment. Open-source GIS software is also gaining traction, providing cost-effective solutions for small and medium enterprises.

The services segment encompasses various professional services such as consulting, integration, maintenance, and training. As GIS solutions become more complex and sophisticated, the need for specialized services to implement and manage these systems is growing. Consulting services assist organizations in selecting the right GIS solutions and integrating them with existing systems. Maintenance and support services ensure that GIS systems operate efficiently and remain up-to-date with the latest technological advancements. Training services are also crucial, as they help users maximize the potential of GIS technologies.

This specialized location dataset delivers detailed information about marina establishments. Maritime industry professionals, coastal planners, and tourism researchers can leverage precise location insights to understand maritime infrastructure, analyze recreational boating landscapes, and develop targeted strategies.

How Do We Create Polygons? -All our polygons are manually crafted using advanced GIS tools like QGIS, ArcGIS, and similar applications. This involves leveraging aerial imagery and street-level views to ensure precision. -Beyond visual data, our expert GIS data engineers integrate venue layout/elevation plans sourced from official company websites to construct detailed indoor polygons. This meticulous process ensures higher accuracy and consistency. -We verify our polygons through multiple quality checks, focusing on accuracy, relevance, and completeness.

What's More? -Custom Polygon Creation: Our team can build polygons for any location or category based on your specific requirements. Whether it’s a new retail chain, transportation hub, or niche point of interest, we’ve got you covered. -Enhanced Customization: In addition to polygons, we capture critical details such as entry and exit points, parking areas, and adjacent pathways, adding greater context to your geospatial data. -Flexible Data Delivery Formats: We provide datasets in industry-standard formats like WKT, GeoJSON, Shapefile, and GDB, making them compatible with various systems and tools. -Regular Data Updates: Stay ahead with our customizable refresh schedules, ensuring your polygon data is always up-to-date for evolving business needs.

Unlock the Power of POI and Geospatial Data With our robust polygon datasets and point-of-interest data, you can: -Perform detailed market analyses to identify growth opportunities. -Pinpoint the ideal location for your next store or business expansion. -Decode consumer behavior patterns using geospatial insights. -Execute targeted, location-driven marketing campaigns for better ROI. -Gain an edge over competitors by leveraging geofencing and spatial intelligence.

Why Choose LocationsXYZ? LocationsXYZ is trusted by leading brands to unlock actionable business insights with our spatial data solutions. Join our growing network of successful clients who have scaled their operations with precise polygon and POI data. Request your free sample today and explore how we can help accelerate your business growth.

Geographic Information System (GIS) Software Market Outlook

The global Geographic Information System (GIS) software market size is projected to grow from USD 9.1 billion in 2023 to USD 18.5 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% over the forecast period. This growth is driven by the increasing application of GIS software across various sectors such as agriculture, construction, transportation, and utilities, along with the rising demand for location-based services and advanced mapping solutions.

One of the primary growth factors for the GIS software market is the widespread adoption of spatial data by various industries to enhance operational efficiency. In agriculture, for instance, GIS software plays a crucial role in precision farming by aiding in crop monitoring, soil analysis, and resource management, thereby optimizing yield and reducing costs. In the construction sector, GIS software is utilized for site selection, design and planning, and infrastructure management, making project execution more efficient and cost-effective.

Additionally, the integration of GIS with emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) is significantly enhancing the capabilities of GIS software. AI-driven data analytics and IoT-enabled sensors provide real-time data, which, when combined with spatial data, results in more accurate and actionable insights. This integration is particularly beneficial in fields like smart city planning, disaster management, and environmental monitoring, further propelling the market growth.

Another significant factor contributing to the market expansion is the increasing government initiatives and investments aimed at improving geospatial infrastructure. Governments worldwide are recognizing the importance of GIS in policy-making, urban planning, and public safety, leading to substantial investments in GIS technologies. For example, the U.S. governmentÂ’s Geospatial Data Act emphasizes the development of a cohesive national geospatial policy, which in turn is expected to create more opportunities for GIS software providers.

Geographic Information System Analytics is becoming increasingly pivotal in transforming raw geospatial data into actionable insights. By employing sophisticated analytical tools, GIS Analytics allows organizations to visualize complex spatial relationships and patterns, enhancing decision-making processes across various sectors. For instance, in urban planning, GIS Analytics can identify optimal locations for new infrastructure projects by analyzing population density, traffic patterns, and environmental constraints. Similarly, in the utility sector, it aids in asset management by predicting maintenance needs and optimizing resource allocation. The ability to integrate GIS Analytics with other data sources, such as demographic and economic data, further amplifies its utility, making it an indispensable tool for strategic planning and operational efficiency.

Regionally, North America holds the largest share of the GIS software market, driven by technological advancements and high adoption rates across various sectors. Europe follows closely, with significant growth attributed to the increasing use of GIS in environmental monitoring and urban planning. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period, fueled by rapid urbanization, infrastructure development, and government initiatives in countries like China and India.

Component Analysis

The GIS software market is segmented into software and services, each playing a vital role in meeting the diverse needs of end-users. The software segment encompasses various types of GIS software, including desktop GIS, web GIS, and mobile GIS. Desktop GIS remains the most widely used, offering comprehensive tools for spatial analysis, data management, and visualization. Web GIS, on the other hand, is gaining traction due to its accessibility and ease of use, allowing users to access GIS capabilities through a web browser without the need for extensive software installations.

Mobile GIS is another crucial aspect of the software segment, providing field-based solutions for data collection, asset management, and real-time decision making. With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, mobile GIS applications are becoming indispensable for sectors such as utilities, transportation, and

Xverum’s Global GIS & Geospatial Data is a high-precision dataset featuring 230M+ verified points of interest across 249 countries. With rich metadata, structured geographic attributes, and continuous updates, our dataset empowers businesses, researchers, and governments to extract location intelligence and conduct advanced geospatial analysis.

Perfectly suited for GIS systems, mapping tools, and location intelligence platforms, this dataset covers everything from businesses and landmarks to public infrastructure, all classified into over 5000 categories. Whether you're planning urban developments, analyzing territories, or building location-based products, our data delivers unmatched coverage and accuracy.

Key Features: ✅ 230M+ Global POIs Includes commercial, governmental, industrial, and service locations - updated regularly for accurate relevance.

✅ Comprehensive Geographic Coverage Worldwide dataset covering 249 countries, with attributes including latitude, longitude, city, country code, postal code, etc.

✅ Detailed Mapping Metadata Get structured address data, place names, categories, and location, which are ideal for map visualization and geospatial modeling.

✅ Bulk Delivery for GIS Platforms Available in .json - delivered via S3 Bucket or cloud storage for easy integration into ArcGIS, QGIS, Mapbox, and similar systems.

✅ Continuous Discovery & Refresh New POIs added and existing ones refreshed on a regular refresh cycle, ensuring reliable, up-to-date insights.

✅ Compliance & Scalability 100% compliant with global data regulations and scalable for enterprise use across mapping, urban planning, and retail analytics.

Use Cases: 📍 Location Intelligence & Market Analysis Identify high-density commercial zones, assess regional activity, and understand spatial relationships between locations.

🏙️ Urban Planning & Smart City Development Design infrastructure, zoning plans, and accessibility strategies using accurate location-based data.

🗺️ Mapping & Navigation Enrich digital maps with verified business listings, categories, and address-level geographic attributes.

📊 Retail Site Selection & Expansion Analyze proximity to key POIs for smarter retail or franchise placement.

📌 Risk & Catchment Area Assessment Evaluate location clusters for insurance, logistics, or regional outreach strategies.

Why Xverum? ✅ Global Coverage: One of the largest POI geospatial databases on the market ✅ Location Intelligence Ready: Built for GIS platforms and spatial analysis use ✅ Continuously Updated: New POIs discovered and refreshed regularly ✅ Enterprise-Friendly: Scalable, compliant, and customizable ✅ Flexible Delivery: Structured format for smooth data onboarding

Request a free sample and discover how Xverum’s geospatial data can power your mapping, planning, and spatial analysis projects.

MAPDAT is a program for plotting spatial data held in the ORACLE relational database onto any map within the Australian region at any scale. MAPDAT also includes a system for defining geological structures, thus any geological structure can be stored in the database and plotted.

The program enables the plotting of sample locations along with infomration specific to each location. The information can be displayed beside each point or in a list to the side of the map. The symbols can be sized proportionally to the value of a column in a table or a SQL expression. Town locations, survey paths, gridlines, survey areas, coastlines and other geographical lines can be plotted.

The program does not compete with geographical information systems but fills a niche at a much lower level of complexity. As a result of its simplicity a minimum in setting up of data is required and using the program is very straight forward with the user always aware of the database operations being performed.