Geographic Information Systems at VCU Libraries
What is GIS?
GIS is an automated system composed of hardware, data, software, and people used to create, store, display, and analyze spatial data and related attributes. A GIS integrates query and statistical analysis with mapmaking and geographical analysis.
What is GIS used for?
Geographic information systems allow users to perform complex analyses of geographic and statistical attributes. These analyses provide powerful planning and decision making tools for a wide assortment of disciplines. GIS is now being used for a variety of applications, including cancer research, criminal justice, environmental risk analysis, health administration, marketing, public health, urban studies and planning, and others.
Where to Learn More
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs offers a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). For information about the program, please visit the Graduate School Bulletin: Admission Requirements Summary; Admission Requirements; and Curriculum.
As part of the State of Virginia higher education site license for ESRI, VCU students, faculty, and staff have free access to the GIS Technology courses offered as ESRI Virtual Campus courses. For more information on ESRI Virtual Campus courses and to register, please see the following:
VCU Technology Services administers the site license for VCU and provides information on GIS at VCU.
VCU Libraries also owns a wide variety of spatial and numerical data sets as a Federal Depository Library and a Virginia State Documents Depository. For more information on library resources, please visit the information pages on data collections and hardware and software.