top of page
GeoWGS84AI_Logo_edited.jpg

What Is GIS Data? Definition, Types, and Real-World Examples

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) power the modern world—from navigation apps to environmental modeling, utility management, and national security. At the center of these systems is GIS data, the digital representation of real-world geographic phenomena. Whether you’re building spatial analytics workflows, developing location-based applications, or managing enterprise geodatabases, understanding GIS data is essential.


GIS Data
GIS Data

What Is GIS Data?


GIS data refers to any information that describes features, objects, or events on Earth, combined with their geographic location. It integrates spatial data (where something is) with attribute data (what something is), enabling advanced spatial analysis, mapping, and modeling.


In technical terms, GIS data is:

  • Georeferenced using coordinate systems (e.g., WGS84, NAD83, Web Mercator).

  • Stored in vector, raster, or tabular formats.

  • Managed in GIS platforms, such as Esri ArcGIS, QGIS, PostGIS, and cloud-native spatial databases.


GIS data provides the foundation for spatial analytics, helping users extract patterns, relationships, and trends that cannot be understood with non-spatial data alone.


Types of GIS Data


GIS data is broadly divided into three major categories: vector data, raster data, and attribute/tabular data. Each type has unique characteristics and use cases.


  1. Vector Data


Vector data represents geographic features using discrete geometry:

Geometry Type

Description

Examples

Point

Single coordinate location

Fire hydrants, ATMs, wildlife sightings

Line

Sequence of connected points

Roads, pipelines, electrical lines

Polygon

Enclosed areas with boundaries

City limits, land parcels, and lakes


Key technical attributes of vector data:


  • High precision and ideal for topological modeling.

  • Supports spatial queries, such as adjacency, containment, and connectivity.

  • Common formats: Shapefile (.shp), GeoJSON, KML, GPKG, Feature Services.


Use Cases:


  • Utility network modeling

  • Transportation planning

  • Parcel mapping and cadastral systems


  1. Raster Data


Raster data consists of pixel-based grids where each cell contains a value representing information about the surface.

Type of Raster

Description

Examples

Satellite Imagery

Multispectral and hyperspectral bands

Landsat, Sentinel-2, Planet imagery

DEM (Digital Elevation Model)

Elevation values

LiDAR-derived elevation models

Thematic Rasters

Categorized data

Land cover maps, soil type maps

Technical characteristics:


  • Defined by resolution (e.g., 10 m, 30 m, 1 m).

  • Ideal for surface analysis, classification, and environmental modeling.

  • Common formats: GeoTIFF, IMG, NetCDF, Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFF (COG).


Use Cases:


  • Flood modeling

  • NDVI vegetation analysis

  • Terrain analysis and slope/aspect calculation


  1. Attribute / Tabular Data


Attribute data provides non-spatial information that is linked to spatial features.


Examples:


  • Population data attached to census polygons.

  • Material type attached to a pipeline feature.

  • Traffic volume linked to road segments.


Common storage systems include:


  • Relational databases (PostGIS, SQL Server)

  • Enterprise geodatabases (ArcGIS Enterprise)

  • Cloud platforms (AWS Athena with spatial extensions, BigQuery GIS)


Other Important Categories of GIS Data


Geocoded Data is a GIS Data Category


Addresses are geocoded into the appropriate geographic coordinate systems to generate GIS Data. Geocoding is used in logistics, marketing, Canada Post risk modeling, and other logistics-based applications.


LiDAR is a GIS Data Category


LiDAR consists of point clouds collected using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology. They are often used in 3D modeling, forest analysis, and inspections of infrastructure.


Network Data


Network data (also known as “transportation network data”) defines attributes related to routing and connections through the network. Examples of network data are utility networks, roadway networks, and telecom networks.


Real-World Examples of GIS Data Applications


Here are some real-world applications of geographic technology across different industries.


  1. Application of Geographic Technology in Urban Planning and Smart Cities


  • Building Footprints (vector format polygon)

  • Zoning Boundaries (vector format)

  • 3D Elevation Models (raster format)

  • Real-time Traffic Sensor Feeds (IoT data)


Purpose: For modeling land use, planning infrastructure, and optimizing traffic.


  1. Application of Geographic Technology in Environmental Science and Conservation


  • NDVI Vegetation Index (raster format)

  • Wildlife Tracking Data (GPS point format)

  • Watershed Boundaries (polygon format)


Purpose: For modeling climate change, conserving habitats, and monitoring forest health.


  1. Application of Geographic Technology in Utilities and Infrastructure Management


  • Electric Transmission Networks (line format)

  • Substation Locations (point format)

  • High Resolution LIDAR (point cloud format)


Purpose: To predict outages, manage the lifecycle of assets, and assess vegetation encroachment.


  1. Public Safety and Emergency Response


  • Rasters of flood inundation

  • Polygons of evacuation zones

  • Points of real-time incident response to 911


Uses: To prepare for disasters, model risks, and plan for evacuations.


  1. Transportation and Logistics


  • Vector lines of road centerlines and speed limits

  • Real-time GPS location data from fleets (IoT)

  • Rasters of travel-time surface


Uses: To optimize routes, analyze congestion, and track the supply chain.


Importance of GIS Data


GIS Data allows organizations to:


  • Improve decision-making with spatial insights.

  • Optimize operations and asset management.

  • Enhance disaster preparedness and environmental protection.

  • Build advanced applications using real-time and historical spatial data.

  • Support enterprise-level digital transformation initiatives.


GIS takes raw geographic data and shapes it into effective, actionable intelligence to inform decisions across the government, business, and scientific communities.


The Global Information System (GIS) is a system that provides an informed view of the Earth’s processes and how people interact with those processes. It provides scientists and others with the capabilities to model the Earth’s surface and to develop infrastructure and make data-driven decisions.


As the use of GIS technology continues to converge with Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the sophistication and importance of GIS will only continue to grow.


For more information or any questions regarding GIS Data, please don't hesitate to contact us at


USA (HQ): (720) 702–4849


(A GeoWGS84 Corp Company)

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page