Geographic Information Systems GIS, Bureau of Land Management California

A seagull flies over the California Coastal National Monument which stretches along the entire coast of California and extends 12 miles into the Pacific Ocean. The Monument includes 20,000 rocks, islands, pinnacles and reefs.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Wagon wheel in the Carrizo Plain National Monument

California



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Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

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Geographic information systems (GIS) are systems composed of people, hardware, software, and data that are capable of assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying spatially-referenced data. GIS technology combines layers of information about a particular place allowing a better understanding of that place. This powerful computer mapping system allows users to make customized maps in addition to solving complex planning and management problems.

How does the BLM use GIS?

In the business of managing public lands, the BLM collects and utilizes a great deal of information related to or describing a piece of land and the resources on and under it. Data might be information about bird nesting sites or wild horse herd use areas. It might be legal land survey information or legal descriptions of land parcels. The common thread is that this information is tied to the land. The technical term for this information is "geospatial data".