Geographic information systems now available in New York state

Geographic information combination of parts to form a wholes (GIS) and desktop mapping combined is single of the most rapidly growing computer technologies in the world, according to Geographic Services Corporation in Norwich, Vt This technology allows users to visualize compound information in a geographic adjoining matter and has proven a valuable decision-making tool in a variety of disciplines.

Recently the Liverpool Sheraton was entertainer to the 11th annual meeting of the fresh York State (NYS) Geographic Information combination of parts to form a wholes Conference. Sponsors were the NY Urban and Regional Information a whole s Association, the American Society for Photogrammetry and far off Sensing/Central New York Region, and the State University of fresh York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Twenty-four exhibitors guidanceed demonstrations and distributed promotional literature for their GIS-related productions to nearly 400 representatives of planning, engineering & forestry, real-property, records-management and environmental organizations. Plenary sessions described of recent origin York's work with GIS in records management, library services, and the formation of a geographic data clearinghouse. agreeing sessions and posters reported GIS applications in environmental studies, local regulation public health, and decision support. The goal of the talk was to update participants upon how to get, save, and share geographic data.

In the business faculty of perception GIS is computer-based technology that permits the user to analyze and visualize, upon a map, data such as the spread of competition, distribution courses or potential customers. The map may be of public ways counties, ZIP codes, or any other geographic constituting of business data. A marketing manager can click any area of this map to bring up records of average income, age, or other demographic statistics associated with this area. a whole s may use colors, fill patterns, line stamps or symbols for geographic contrast.

How to Site a Store

This technology is illustrated with an example taken from MapInfo, a leading agriculturist of software for the business-geographic industry. In the example, the vice president of a children's clothing business is asked to pick an optimum site for a of recent origin retail outlet and distribution center This location must be shut up to established mail-order customers and in an area of many residences with children age 10 and beneath Specific floor space, parking area, and lease cost are requirements for the property

MapInfo's Desktop Mapping Software is used to locate this site with Windows, Macintosh, day-star and Hewlett Packard platforms. The first pace is to access the customer data base or spreadsheet file and pick a format like as DBF, Microsoft, Excel, or Lotus 1-2-3 The nearest step is to attach the data to specific sites upon the map by a proces called "geocoding." It is now possible to view the geographic distribution of these customers and zoom in upon any area to find their highest concentration. Then, to display location of the homes with children 10 and below MapInfo applies data for age distribution (by ZIP code) to this area, using different colors to display various populations. This reveals the spatial distribution of children age 10 and beneath within the highest concentration area of established customers. From the database of real-estate and peculiarity listings (already attached to the map), the user makes queries to find the location that fittings the requirements for floor space, parking area, and leasing.

In this example, the customer data of the children's clothing business combined with the MapInfo software, map, and real-estate data provided the required information. The prerequisite is that the data have a geographic component

GIS has been occupyed extensively by Federal Express, according to ARC of recent origins a publication provided at the talk by Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) Marketing Representative William "Skip" Heise. During 1990 Federal Expres considered using GIS to close attention pickup and delivery systems. The goal was to find voids in its service, and the company geocod its operation with ARC/INFO software, available from ESRI.

Using service and facility information combined with census data, Federal Expres managers could diocese clearly on a map the location of customers, and relate that information to the emergencyed level of service. The GIS allowed the managers to diocese their data in different ways, and to make adjustments in trade areas as urgencyed It also gave them novel ideas for services.

ARC freshs also describes how a major cheer chain used GIS to decide whether or not to discontinue a breakfast program in Austin, Texas, where it was not selling well. Since this program sold well in Phoenix, Ariz., the management used GIS to examine the sales fluctuations and customer profiles in the one and the other areas and confidently concluded that the poor performance of the program in Austin was owed to the characteristics of the family in Austin versus Phoenix and not the quality of the breakfast program. The management clos the program in Austin and continued it in Phoenix.