GIS: The Geographic Language of Our Age

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to geographic information systems (GIS). It explains the ideas and methodology behind GIS, and discusses all aspects of the process of collection, processing, analysis, and presentation of geographic information. In this respect, the book differs from more technically oriented literature on GIS. GIS is increasingly employed as a tool to support planning and management across diverse areas of society, and so the emphasis is placed on how GIS works as a geographic language in different contexts. The book is informative, easy to follow, and aims to make GIS applicable and relevant to professional planners who organise and shape our environments. In this second edition, the content has been updated by various experts. The new chapter on the use of geographic information and GIS as a basis for military decisions, may also be very relevant for other disciplines. All of the authors have academic backgrounds, high levels of expertise, and long experience in the use of GIS at the Norwegian Military Academy and the NDEA.