What is GIS?

 

GIS stands for Geographic Information System. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) defines GIS as “a collection of computer hardware, software, and geographic data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.” A GIS is a system that allows the user to create data, collect data, analyze data, and map data. If something has a physical location it can be put into a GIS.

A GIS has almost limitless applications. A GIS can help with site selection, master plan updates, recreation planning, business planning, transportation planning, private-use maps, crime analysis, and so much more.

Over the past few years NWMCOG has provided high quality mapping services to the region and will continue to do so. We offer a variety of fee based mapping services to help you with all of your GIS needs. We can customize maps specific to your needs. Some of the available data we have for mapping includes:

Base Layers
Roads
Lakes & Ponds
Rivers& Streams
Railroads
County Boundaries
Twp Boundaries
City & Village Boundaries
Section Lines

Other Layers
Digital Elevation Models
Hillshade Relief
Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles
10 meter Contour Lines
Census Data
Potential Flood Prone Areas
Landslide Zones
Landmarks
Land Cover
Land Use
Public Lands
School Districts
Soils
Watersheds
Wetlands
Zip Codes

For a detailed list of our prices download our fee schedule. To order mapping services contact Sarah Merz at EMAIL: smerz@nwm.cog.mi.us / PHONE: 231-929-5000 or fill out a map request form and fax or mail it to Sarah Merz at: FAX: 231-929-5012 / ADDRESS: PO Box 506 Traverse City, MI 49685-0506