What is GIS?

What Is GIS?

Geographical Information systems (GIS) allows users to manage, analyze and map data.  Every parcel boundary, wetland, roadway, sampling location, or census tract can be stored as a spatial feature with associated attributes. These features can then be analyzed individually or in combination to answer complex questions. This technology has wide reaching applications in business, law and conservation. 

Using GIS we can bring in data and imagery to help answer questions about landscapes, area statistics, and change over time. We can create spatial features to outline areas of land, trace certain features in the landscape, or identify points of interest. Public and private data such as census, land cover, or elevation data can also be used to understand spatial patterns.  GIS is being used increasingly to highlight and identify environmental problems. 

Supporting Environmental Analysis

Environmental processes are inherently spatial. Whether modeling surface runoff or documenting historical land use, GIS allows these processes to be quantified, visualized, and verified through rigorous spatial modeling. 

GIS capabilities support objective analysis to: 

• Perform retrospective reviews of historic aerial imagery to document land cover changes or verify physical disturbances over time.

• Model topography and hydrology to understand surface drainage and determine potential flow path connectivity.

• Delineate spatial features such as wetlands and flood zones based on available geospatial and regulatory data.

• Quantify acreage and proximity using standardized, reproducible spatial measurements.

• Mapping seagrass, oyster reefs, or bathymetry, which is vital for coastal development permits.

• Use elevation data (LiDAR) to create "what-if" scenarios for coastal resiliency planning, model localized flood risks, regulatory buffers, and wetland boundaries with much higher fidelity than public datasets often provide.

• Use historic property lines to identify where illegal clearing or structures have crossed into protected forest or riparian buffers. 

GIS in Environmental Litigation and Dispute Resolution

In legal settings, methodological transparency and neutrality are critical. GIS provides a reproducible framework for spatial analysis that supports expert testimony and regulatory documentation for both plaintiff and defense counsel.

GIS can assist in environmental lawsuits and regulatory matters by:

• Visualizing historical site conditions using historical aerial photography.

• Mapping results of contamination testing.

• Identifying property boundaries and calculating distances to verify or contest impact claims.

• Evaluating land-use changes in the context of zoning, permits, and regulatory compliance.

• Producing court-ready exhibits that provide a clear, evidence-based visual representation of complex data. 

Because GIS combines technical analysis with visual communication, it helps attorneys, consultants, agencies, and juries understand complex environmental information quickly and accurately.

GIS Consulting

GIS is a powerful decision-support tool but unlocking its full potential requires technical training and analytical expertise. From data preparation and spatial modeling to map design and defensible reporting, effective GIS work goes far beyond simply creating maps.

For organizations that want to leverage GIS without building an in-house team, partnering with a consultant provides access to specialized expertise and efficient, results-driven analysis. A GIS consultant can help you organize complex datasets, conduct spatial analysis, interpret environmental patterns, and develop clear, actionable solutions tailored to your project goals.

At Spatial Analytics and Research Consulting, our trained analysts bring experience in spatial data analysis, mapping, and coastal and environmental systems. We provide data-driven, defensible, and clearly communicated results.

If you’re interested in learning how GIS consulting can support your project, we invite you to get in touch through the Contact page. We look forward to discussing how we can assist you.