GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems and it's a computerized mapping system that integrates information, software, hardware, and people. It allows us to analyze, evaluate, manipulate, gather and store geographic information to produce and demonstrate relationships. GIS helps us in various ways including giving us driving directions for summer vacation, viewing weather patterns to prepare for a storm, and determining where we should build a new school based on population centers. Whether you know it or not, you probably use or at least see GIS in action everyday!