"A geographic information system (GIS) consists of integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, edit, output, and visualize geographic data."
Database systems used to store, analyze and manipulate geographic data.
CARTOGRAPHY: The science and art of creating maps.
GIS DATA STRUCTURES: Introduction to spatial data structures – vector, matrix and raster.
COORDINATE SYSTEMS: Overview of the coordinate systems and their importance in GIS.
GEOREFERENCING: The process of aligning raster or vector data with a real-world coordinate system.
DIGITIZATION: Process of converting paper-based maps into digital format using geographic information software.
DATA ACQUISITION: Methods of acquiring spatial data (such as GPS, aerial photography, and satellite imagery).
DATA MODELS: Understanding the different data models (such as point, line, and polygon) used in GIS.
ATTRIBUTE DATA MANAGEMENT: Managing non-spatial data associated with spatial data in a GIS.
SPATIAL DATA ANALYSIS: Techniques used to analyze spatial data, including proximity analysis, overlay analysis, and spatial statistics.
MAP PROJECTION: Overview of map projection techniques and their importance in spatial analysis.
REMOTE SENSING: Introduction to remote sensing techniques used to collect and analyze spatial data.
WEB GIS: The use of GIS technology over the internet to provide access to spatial data.
GEODATABASE DESIGN: Understanding the relational database structure used in GIS data management.
TOPOLOGY: Managing and analyzing topological relationships in spatial data (such as adjacency and connectivity).
GPS and SURVEYING: Understanding GPS technology and surveying techniques used in GIS data acquisition.
Web GIS: This type of GIS uses the internet to share information and data across different platforms.
Mobile GIS: As the name suggests, this type of GIS is used in mobile devices (phones and tablets) to gather, store and analyse geographic data.
Desktop GIS: This type of GIS runs on desktop computers and is used for complex data processing and analysis.
Interactive GIS: This type of GIS involves interactive maps and dashboards that allow users to manipulate data and provide feedback in real-time.
Cloud GIS: Cloud GIS is a web-based geographic information system that allows users to store, manage and share data and applications on cloud computing infrastructure.
Public GIS: This type of GIS is used by governments to provide public access to geographical data for decision-making purposes.
Land Management GIS: This type of GIS is used in land-ownership management and helps to plan the use of land resources.
Environmental GIS: As the name suggests, this type of GIS is used in environmental planning and management, including conservation, pollution control, and resource management.
Real-time GIS: This type of GIS uses real-time data and information to help create visualizations and analyses that are based on current events, weather, and social media data.
3D GIS: This type of GIS allows for the integration of 3D models and visualizations, enabling a more interactive and dynamic way of viewing geographic data.
"[A GIS] consists of integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, edit, output, and visualize geographic data."
"Much of this often happens within a spatial database, however, this is not essential to meet the definition of a GIS."
"One may consider such a system also to include human users and support staff, procedures and workflows, the body of knowledge of relevant concepts and methods, and institutional organizations."
"The uncounted plural, geographic information systems, also abbreviated GIS, is the most common term for the industry and profession concerned with these systems."
"The academic discipline that studies these systems and their underlying geographic principles, may also be abbreviated as GIS, but the unambiguous GIScience is more common."
"They are attached to various operations and numerous applications, that relate to: engineering, planning, management, transport/logistics, insurance, telecommunications, and business."
"GIS and location intelligence applications are at the foundation of location-enabled services, which rely on geographic analysis and visualization."
"GIS provides the capability to relate previously unrelated information, through the use of location as the 'key index variable'."
"Locations and extents that are found in the Earth's spacetime are able to be recorded through the date and time of occurrence, along with x, y, and z coordinates."
"[x, y, and z coordinates representing] longitude (x), latitude (y), and elevation (z)."
"All Earth-based, spatial-temporal, location and extent references should be relatable to one another, and ultimately, to a 'real' physical location or extent."
"This key characteristic of GIS has begun to open new avenues of scientific inquiry and studies." Note: Since not all 20 questions can be answered directly by quotes from the paragraph, I have provided answers for the available quotes.