By Shahabuddin Amerudin
The implementation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has revolutionized several aspects of our lives, ranging from improved communication to efficient decision-making. One of the most significant benefits of GIS is the enhancement of communication between different departments, teams, disciplines, professional fields, organizations, and the public. With the creation of rich maps and hi-tech communication systems, GIS has made it easier for people to communicate and share data.
GIS has also led to better decision-making by providing enhanced abilities to make better decisions about the location of places. This includes site selection for real estate, zoning, planning, conservation, route selection, and natural resource extraction. People are beginning to realize the significance of GIS in making accurate decisions about the location of intended projects.
Additionally, GIS has promoted cost-saving mechanisms and measures, resulting in greater efficiency. By automating or improving workflows through GIS implementation, labor savings can be achieved, and logistics operations can be dramatically improved. Furthermore, customer service efficiency can be increased by reducing the number of return visits to the same site and scheduling appointments more efficiently.
GIS has made the handling, compiling, and distribution of information much easier. Governments and many large corporations use GIS information products to communicate and share data, providing a framework for creating a blueprint for action, understanding it, and prescribing the action. GIS is fast becoming an enterprise for information systems, with geography emerging as a new way to organize and manage information. This has transformed the way organizations manage their assets, serve their clients, make decisions, and communicate. For example, giant oil companies now manage their assets and resources as an enterprise information system to support day-to-day work management tasks and provide a broader context for asset and resource management.
GIS technology has transformed several services that were previously impacted by failed human logistics, leading to improved services. For instance, home delivery of packages has greatly improved, and healthcare services have received a huge boost. Ambulance drivers can easily determine the quickest and easiest route to the hospital thanks to GIS mapping systems. GIS has also led to the development of top-notch navigation systems in cars, making life easier for cab drivers and delivering quality service.
Furthermore, GIS has promoted marketing through Geo-Marketing, which allows organizations to respond to both customer and market needs by segmenting and profiling existing customers to improve acquisition and retention and find new opportunities providing a competitive edge to succeed in today’s volatile economy.
GIS has also taken education to the next level, equipping the education community with tools to develop a greater understanding of our world through geospatial data analysis. With GIS, students and teachers can integrate and evaluate data from diverse means to develop new theories and knowledge, grooming them to cope with the demands of the 21st-century workforce.
GIS has also made mapping and charting easier, making it a vital tool for topographic, aeronautical, and nautical mapping and charting agencies. GIS has the ability to manage and produce the specific data and map products required by these agencies.
In addition, GIS has improved communication during crisis situations, aiding rescue operations by providing mapping technology and smooth communication with the base of operation. It has also made the management of natural resources easier by helping pinpoint the exact location of mineral resources and quantity, allowing for proper planning and management.
In conclusion, GIS is a powerful tool that has been successfully implemented to help address a number of significant issues. As more and more professionals begin to adopt and integrate the program, the number of benefits is likely to continue to rise, including improved connectivity between government, transport systems, health sectors, and managerial posts professionals with communities they serve. These connections are perhaps the most important ones to be made, and GIS has the potential to continue transforming them for the better.
Reference:
Monde Geospatial (2017). Top 10 Benefits of Geographic Information Systems. [Online]. Available at: http://monde-geospatial.com/top-10-benefits-of-geographic-information-systems (Accessed: 3 April 2023).
Suggestion for Citation: Amerudin, S. (2023). How Geographic Information Systems are Transforming the Way We Manage Information, Make Decisions, and Deliver Services. [Online] Available at: https://people.utm.my/shahabuddin/?p=6247 (Accessed: 3 April 2023).
