What is a GIS?

A GIS, or geographic information system, is a computer-based tool for mapping, querying, and analyzing data. It  combines the visual aspects  of a map  with a database to create a unique system that can adapt to changes in the real world.

How does a GIS work?

In a GIS, information is stored in layers linked together by geography. These layers can be in four different forms: points, lines, polygons, and text. You may want to use points when mapping telephone  poles, lines when mapping roads, or polygons for mapping out ponds and lakes. Text can be used to label the GIS map with familiar landmarks. Each piece of a GIS layer can have a table to go along with it. For instance, a road might have a table showing the amount of traffic that passes over  it. Each layer can be turned on or off, and changed when updates are available. This allows a GIS map to become extremely versatile; to add another telephone pole to the layer, just point and click.

How do students involved with MDIWQC use GIS?

Students have been using GIS software to aid the water quality monitoring project. When the third grade class stenciled storm drains in Bar Harbor, each and every stenciled storm drain was entered on the GIS map. Once the data is entered, we can query the results using various methods. For example, if we wanted to know how many storm drains were stenciled altogether, we could get that answer by checking the table for the layer that shows the stenciled storm drains. By selecting an individual storm drain, either by clicking on the map or on the table, we can get specific information about just that one drain. If we were wondering which storm drains have the highest elevations, we could access a contour theme to print a topographic map.

What is the future of GIS in terms of MDIWQC?

The future of GIS for us is based in its query capabilities. We hope that eventually, by clicking on a stenciled storm drain, we can see if it is close to a public area, such as a parking lot. We also hope to be able to view observations from the stenciling project by looking at a data table attached to the layer. Before these things can happen, someone must code parcels for the parking lots, and enter observation data into a table.