Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a computer systemGIS files description capable of creating, storing, managing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced information. GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts. What does this mean? Digital information in the form of databases takes the shape of lines, points, and polygons that relate to a geographic location on the earths surface. What can it do for me? It can tell you what your land use zone is, what tax district you are in, what rural fire district you are in, or where to best place your home or barn on your property. GIS helps people to make informed decisions integrating multiple sources of information resulting in the ability to “see the whole picture.” Questions GIS can answer…… Location………What is at…..? Condition……..Where is it? Trends………..What has changed since….? Patterns………What spatial patterns exist? Modeling……..What if…..?