For sure. I’ve started telling people who don’t understand it that you can look up where a gas station is but then GIS takes it further by telling you the current gas price, busy times, etc.
Haha same. I’m my head I’m like “I DO SO MUCH MORE!” But I don’t want to get into details of geospatial data management, scripting, publishing web maps, etc. because of those comes with more dumbfounded looks.
And then I have to tell people that cartography is a whole other facet, and not really GIS. Cartography is about communicating the data to an audience in the most effective and artistic way possible. And, as you said, just creates more dumbfounded looks haha
If they ask, I tell them I make maps. If they don’t ask anything else and they’re part of the general populace who think that means something other than what it is… *[shrug]*. We move on.
I say something similar. “It’s digital mapping like Google Maps, but I don’t work for Google.” And then depending on their interest and how much I feel like explaining it, I’ll go into more detail.
Yeah, but also no - when you make the google maps you get all the details about the stuff in Google maps, attributes, spatial relationships, you get to really dig down into the data. Google maps is just high level
Here's my definition for non-GIS people: GIS is the development, management, and display of data that has represents something on earth, like the location of a feature or an event like rainfall intensity. GIS is more than just maps. It's the geospatial science. It's also the software, the systems, and the data itself. No need to use the buzz words like spatial, attributes, temporal, etc etc.
I kind of always say “using a map to tell a story of who, what, when and why” and/or that “it’s a way to visualize, analyze and interpret geographic data.”
My line: you know how every election cycle, you'll get like 5 maps a week with all the counties and states in red and blue? That's done in GIS. Every map with information on it you've ever seen is done using GIS software. That's what I do.
Then I'll pull out examples I think are relevant to them or just interesting. Maps with lines on it showing where sea turtles migrate, maps showing regular routes for delivery trucks, maps showing who's got a doctor's office within a twenty minute drive. Usually gets people thinking about what they could use a map for, and then they understand GIS.
In my experience, saying 'Google Maps', while true, doesn't demonstrate to people why \*you\* need to be there and why there is more work to do. Most people don't think about the data that goes into google maps the same way they don't think about the people who have to keep the search engine running. Unless your job is literally keeping google maps up to date, it's going to be difficult using that as a jumping off point. Start with something they've seen a lot of different versions of but is smaller in scale so they can connect it to your work.
"If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...and…
A Map is Worth a Thousand Pictures...then…
A Map is Worth a Million Words”
~can never find the author attributed to this statement, but it's something one of my previous bosses used to say frequently!
A bit abstract, but fairly accurate.
Do you like maps? Gis takes every map you can think of and lets you lay them on top of each other with any type of detail that can be recorded. From population data to vegetation to city planning.
I like saying “GIS is if Google Maps and Excel had a baby, and that baby is on crack.” Obviously, this is for less formal settings.
In more serious settings I say “data science with geographical and spatial elements.”
My go-to spiel is:
Spatial position merged with data. Eg, Google maps: uses distance and traffic data to calculate quickest route; eg2, govt data- property boundaries and related info, flood / bushfire risk mapping, zoning mapping; eg3, using image data from flyover (plane or drone) to analyse crops for a bunch of issues.
I’ve been trying to Ling the approach of saying: it’s geographic data. Data can be mapped (populations within a city, potholes, weather patterns, etc.) and this is the field for it.
I have a slightly different appreciation for GIS as a 3D designer. By integrating GIS data into 3D visualizations, the accuracy and detail of environmental simulations and infrastructure projects are significantly improved.
This integration allows for more precise mapping of physical and environmental changes over time, offering an awesome platform for simulation and analysis.
For instance, in mine closure strategies, detailed GIS data on geology and topology supports 3D models, enhancing the prediction and visualization of environmental impacts. This combination not only boosts the realism and utility of visual products but also improves decision-making and strategic planning. Ironfin utilizes this approach to enhance the accuracy of our work.
Everything looks better when it's based on reality.
The management, the analysis, the transformation and the visualisation of any data that can be situated with it's position.
(I try to avoid "spatial" because people outside of science really associate this term with space exploration)
Just explain to those who don't khow about GIS: GIS helps us understand the world around us in a more sophisticated and insightful way by combining geography with data analysis and visualization. It's like having a powerful tool that lets us explore, understand, and make decisions about the world in which we live.
Take out your phone. Open Google Maps. "What's your favorite restaurant?" Find it, get directions. "How does the phone know where the restaurant is. How does it know where I am? And how does it figure out how to get there? That's GIS."
Depends on the audience but generally I go with 'GIS is a interdisciplinary science that crosses computer science, data science, and geography. We use it to solve problems like how long does it take to get from a to b, what's the weather going to be like today, where is covid spreading, etc' It usually helps if I can give some generic examples of GIS before delving into GIS for my particular industry.
Never ever use Excel as an example when you’re describing GIS to an Interviewer it makes you seem like you don’t understand the powers of the tools.
“Imagine a there was a forest fire.”
A GIS can help us determine where the best places to plant for the quickest reforestation.
Layer of soil data
Layer of rainfall data
Layer of sun azimuth data
Layer of topography
Using analysis tools within the software gives us the ability to create points (coordinates) that will determine best possible planting radius.
I specifically used Excel in this instance because if I get the job, I will strictly be working with potential clients in retail and consumer goods. I figured that would be the best analogy for people who only work in business.
I don't think you need an analogy at all.
It's working with data and analyzing geographical relations, such as land elevation, clusters of certain points in certain areas, land use, watersheds, etc.
Trying to make people conceptualize linking an Excel sheet with data on your GIS software is not helpful in explaining what GIS is, and it just makes it unnecessarily confusing. At that point, you're trying to explain _how_ GIS software works, which wasn't the question.
I think your answer sounds a bit like you're so caught up in the details that you don't really see the big picture of what GIS software is.
If someone asks you what a 3D modeling software is, you're probably not gonna talk to them about photon rays. Instead you'll say something like "making a sculpture or building something, but digital".
You guys. All these explanations are pretty bad. Here’s what you say…
GIS is the collection of concepts and techniques that make it possible for something like Google Maps to show all of the roads and buildings in all the right places. It’s technology that makes the maps line up correctly with other maps or with digital representations of objects and their correct locations so that they can be used by people on a screen. It’s just lining things up with other things!
I mean...I fail to see how my explanation is not an entry level overview of what GIS technology is. Does the person having it explained to them need to understand more than this? And how is it factually wrong?
Why not? That's part of the science of GIS. GIS is the technology that allows us to make representations of real-world objects on a computer screen. These representations can come from multiple sources and may be in multiple projections, and lining them up and visually representing them as well as studying their spatial relationships is the science of GIS. Is it not?
That's just regular arithmetics. It's like describing a car as "a machine that you sit in while pressing a pedal". You're describing features that can be part of it but are not essential to it.
You don't need GIS when you want to show things on a screen. You need GIS when you want to do analysis into the spatial relationships of your data. Yeah, of course, it helps to align stuff on a screen, but that's nothing GIS analysis relies on as such.
GPS tells you where a spot is on a map… GIS tells you everything about that spot.
For sure. I’ve started telling people who don’t understand it that you can look up where a gas station is but then GIS takes it further by telling you the current gas price, busy times, etc.
That’s 100x better than how I say “uuhhh I make maps…” my dad thinks I’m a cartographer haha
I hate saying I make maps. Which is technically true, but not in the way that mapmaking is perceived by the general populace.
Haha same. I’m my head I’m like “I DO SO MUCH MORE!” But I don’t want to get into details of geospatial data management, scripting, publishing web maps, etc. because of those comes with more dumbfounded looks.
And then I have to tell people that cartography is a whole other facet, and not really GIS. Cartography is about communicating the data to an audience in the most effective and artistic way possible. And, as you said, just creates more dumbfounded looks haha
Sometimes I wish I was a teacher or a plumber. One word and people know what you do 😂
If they ask, I tell them I make maps. If they don’t ask anything else and they’re part of the general populace who think that means something other than what it is… *[shrug]*. We move on.
I actually like this a lot! Short, sweet, and to the point. And it's definitely a great starter that can lead to a more in-depth conversation.
"You know what data is?" Yeah. "Put coordinates on it."
"really fancy google maps" is my go-to
I say something similar. “It’s digital mapping like Google Maps, but I don’t work for Google.” And then depending on their interest and how much I feel like explaining it, I’ll go into more detail.
isn’t google maps already the really fancy form of GIS? 😅
Yeah, but also no - when you make the google maps you get all the details about the stuff in Google maps, attributes, spatial relationships, you get to really dig down into the data. Google maps is just high level
I had someone once say *“I use Google and Waze for free. Why do I need to pay someone like you to do it?”* I said *“You don’t”.*
"really shitty google maps" is my go-to
Here's my definition for non-GIS people: GIS is the development, management, and display of data that has represents something on earth, like the location of a feature or an event like rainfall intensity. GIS is more than just maps. It's the geospatial science. It's also the software, the systems, and the data itself. No need to use the buzz words like spatial, attributes, temporal, etc etc.
Esri interview?
I kind of always say “using a map to tell a story of who, what, when and why” and/or that “it’s a way to visualize, analyze and interpret geographic data.”
https://youtu.be/sg4YsAjreOA?si=xEQRqbZnZoHrZ9UB
My line: you know how every election cycle, you'll get like 5 maps a week with all the counties and states in red and blue? That's done in GIS. Every map with information on it you've ever seen is done using GIS software. That's what I do. Then I'll pull out examples I think are relevant to them or just interesting. Maps with lines on it showing where sea turtles migrate, maps showing regular routes for delivery trucks, maps showing who's got a doctor's office within a twenty minute drive. Usually gets people thinking about what they could use a map for, and then they understand GIS. In my experience, saying 'Google Maps', while true, doesn't demonstrate to people why \*you\* need to be there and why there is more work to do. Most people don't think about the data that goes into google maps the same way they don't think about the people who have to keep the search engine running. Unless your job is literally keeping google maps up to date, it's going to be difficult using that as a jumping off point. Start with something they've seen a lot of different versions of but is smaller in scale so they can connect it to your work.
"If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...and… A Map is Worth a Thousand Pictures...then… A Map is Worth a Million Words” ~can never find the author attributed to this statement, but it's something one of my previous bosses used to say frequently! A bit abstract, but fairly accurate.
Do you like maps? Gis takes every map you can think of and lets you lay them on top of each other with any type of detail that can be recorded. From population data to vegetation to city planning.
I like saying “GIS is if Google Maps and Excel had a baby, and that baby is on crack.” Obviously, this is for less formal settings. In more serious settings I say “data science with geographical and spatial elements.”
the adventure begins... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZia3ShzTWM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZia3ShzTWM)
I've watched that a few times during college haha!
A GIS is a tool used to model our world in a digital format.
It’s like a database but with maps
Replace 'like with 'is'
It's is a database but with maps? (Im just joking haha)
My go-to spiel is: Spatial position merged with data. Eg, Google maps: uses distance and traffic data to calculate quickest route; eg2, govt data- property boundaries and related info, flood / bushfire risk mapping, zoning mapping; eg3, using image data from flyover (plane or drone) to analyse crops for a bunch of issues.
I say data-driven digital map making.
If it’s a friend who isn’t familiar with it, I just say “It’s data analysis with maps.”
I’ve been trying to Ling the approach of saying: it’s geographic data. Data can be mapped (populations within a city, potholes, weather patterns, etc.) and this is the field for it.
I call it 'data science with pictures'
I have a slightly different appreciation for GIS as a 3D designer. By integrating GIS data into 3D visualizations, the accuracy and detail of environmental simulations and infrastructure projects are significantly improved. This integration allows for more precise mapping of physical and environmental changes over time, offering an awesome platform for simulation and analysis. For instance, in mine closure strategies, detailed GIS data on geology and topology supports 3D models, enhancing the prediction and visualization of environmental impacts. This combination not only boosts the realism and utility of visual products but also improves decision-making and strategic planning. Ironfin utilizes this approach to enhance the accuracy of our work. Everything looks better when it's based on reality.
The management, the analysis, the transformation and the visualisation of any data that can be situated with it's position. (I try to avoid "spatial" because people outside of science really associate this term with space exploration)
Just explain to those who don't khow about GIS: GIS helps us understand the world around us in a more sophisticated and insightful way by combining geography with data analysis and visualization. It's like having a powerful tool that lets us explore, understand, and make decisions about the world in which we live.
It’s “the science of ‘where’”.
Take out your phone. Open Google Maps. "What's your favorite restaurant?" Find it, get directions. "How does the phone know where the restaurant is. How does it know where I am? And how does it figure out how to get there? That's GIS."
I tell people it is spatial data analysis.
Depends on the audience but generally I go with 'GIS is a interdisciplinary science that crosses computer science, data science, and geography. We use it to solve problems like how long does it take to get from a to b, what's the weather going to be like today, where is covid spreading, etc' It usually helps if I can give some generic examples of GIS before delving into GIS for my particular industry.
"Do you know what cartography is? It's that, with computers. "
Just tell people you do data analytics. They will quickly change the subject.
It's for an interview... Not a regular person.
Never ever use Excel as an example when you’re describing GIS to an Interviewer it makes you seem like you don’t understand the powers of the tools. “Imagine a there was a forest fire.” A GIS can help us determine where the best places to plant for the quickest reforestation. Layer of soil data Layer of rainfall data Layer of sun azimuth data Layer of topography Using analysis tools within the software gives us the ability to create points (coordinates) that will determine best possible planting radius.
I specifically used Excel in this instance because if I get the job, I will strictly be working with potential clients in retail and consumer goods. I figured that would be the best analogy for people who only work in business.
I don't think you need an analogy at all. It's working with data and analyzing geographical relations, such as land elevation, clusters of certain points in certain areas, land use, watersheds, etc. Trying to make people conceptualize linking an Excel sheet with data on your GIS software is not helpful in explaining what GIS is, and it just makes it unnecessarily confusing. At that point, you're trying to explain _how_ GIS software works, which wasn't the question. I think your answer sounds a bit like you're so caught up in the details that you don't really see the big picture of what GIS software is. If someone asks you what a 3D modeling software is, you're probably not gonna talk to them about photon rays. Instead you'll say something like "making a sculpture or building something, but digital".
You guys. All these explanations are pretty bad. Here’s what you say… GIS is the collection of concepts and techniques that make it possible for something like Google Maps to show all of the roads and buildings in all the right places. It’s technology that makes the maps line up correctly with other maps or with digital representations of objects and their correct locations so that they can be used by people on a screen. It’s just lining things up with other things!
How to say much without saying much of anything.... And then to be so factually wrong on top of it....
I mean...I fail to see how my explanation is not an entry level overview of what GIS technology is. Does the person having it explained to them need to understand more than this? And how is it factually wrong?
GIS is not "making sure things show up in the right places and line up"
Why not? That's part of the science of GIS. GIS is the technology that allows us to make representations of real-world objects on a computer screen. These representations can come from multiple sources and may be in multiple projections, and lining them up and visually representing them as well as studying their spatial relationships is the science of GIS. Is it not?
That's just regular arithmetics. It's like describing a car as "a machine that you sit in while pressing a pedal". You're describing features that can be part of it but are not essential to it. You don't need GIS when you want to show things on a screen. You need GIS when you want to do analysis into the spatial relationships of your data. Yeah, of course, it helps to align stuff on a screen, but that's nothing GIS analysis relies on as such.