Glossary · Automation fundamentals, platforms and components
Geographic information system (GIS)
Also known as: GIS
German: Geografisches Informationssystem (GIS)
In information technology, a geographic information system (GIS) is software that captures, stores, analyzes and displays data linked to locations on the earth's surface.
- Automation components
In one sentence
A geographic information system (GIS) captures, stores, analyzes and displays data linked to geographic locations.
Example
A water utility shows the positions of all pumping stations and their SCADA status on a GIS map, so field crews can plan routes.
How it applies
- Engineering: In utilities, pipelines and energy networks, GIS holds the network topology and asset positions; SCADA and asset management systems link to it.
- Operation: Maps with live status help locate faults and coordinate field crews.
- Documentation: Asset records in GIS should use the same identifiers as the plant documentation and SCADA tags, so information can be traced between systems. Document the coordinate reference system used.
- Maintenance: Field crews use GIS maps on mobile devices to find assets, record inspections and report defects with position data.
GIS vs. SCADA
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) monitors and controls processes in real time. GIS manages spatial data and analysis. Integrating them gives a geographic view of live data but they remain separate systems with different update cycles.