The New Hampshire GIS
Conservation Collaborative
What is GIS
GIS DEFINED
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer-based tool for
mapping, managing, analyzing, and displaying data that have a spatial or
geographic dimension. It serves as the foundation of "geospatial
technologies", allowing users to integrate and map information from
various sources.
Other geospatial tools include:
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) - a satellite-based
technology that records positions on the earth. It can be used
to determine the locations of roads, trails, historic structures,
and other features, providing an important data source for GIS.
Remote Sensing/Image Processing (RS/IP) - a process
of measuring and observing phenomena on the earth using remote
instruments such as airborne cameras and satellite-based sensors.
This tool provides a "bird's eye" view of the earth than can be
integrated into a GIS and is very useful for land cover and land
use assessments.
ABOUT GRANIT
New Hampshire GRANIT
(Geographically Referenced ANalysis and Information Transfer),
New Hampshire's statewide geographic information system, is a
cooperative project to create, maintain, and make available
a digital geographic database serving information to state, federal,
regional, and local decision-makers. The System was initiated in the mid
1980s as a collaborative effort between the University
of New Hampshire (UNH)and the Governor's Office of
Energy and Planning (formerly Office of State Planning), and
participation has since grown to include most of the major
agencies active in resource mapping in the state.
Housed at the Complex Systems Research Center, UNH, GRANIT comprises a
geographic database, hardware and software to build, manage and
access the database, a staff knowledgeable in the use of
GIS, remotely sensed imagery, and computer analysis, and
most importantly, a network of data providers and data users
throughout the state. These components interact to enable GRANIT
to respond to the needs of private and public users as they handle
a broad range of issues requiring the analysis of geographic data.