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Geographic Information Systems
A Geographic Information System (GIS) is an organized collection
of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and personnel
designed to capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and
display all forms of geographically referenced information
(data identified according to their location). This technology
can be used for scientific research, resource management and
planning. GIS allows users to perform very difficult, time
consuming, or otherwise impractical spatial analyses quickly
and efficiently.
The GIS at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
(IDNR) is a department-wide group of offices and divisions
that use GIS technologies. These include: Illinois Natural
History Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois
State Water Survey, Waste Management and Research Center,
Illinois State Museum, IDNR Office of Mines and Minerals,
IDNR Office of Realty and Environmental Planning, and IDNR
Office of Resource Conservation. In the spirit of cooperation
and to avoid duplication of effort, GIS data are freely shared
between these offices and divisions.
The GIS group at the Illinois Natural History Survey, Center
for Wildlife and Plant Ecology is made up of GIS experts with
diverse scientific backgrounds, conducting research in landscape
analyses that help determine the extent and condition of different
community and habitat types in support of conservation policy
decisions.
Far and away the most important part of any Geographic Information
System is its people.
Recent Major Projects:
Land
Cover of Illinois in the Early 1800's
Illinois
Gap Analysis Project
Green Infrastructure
Other Links:
The
Public Domain of Lands in Illinois, 1813-1870
Illinois
Natural Resources Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
Federal
Township Plats of Illinois (1804-1891)
Land
Cover of Illinois 1999-2000
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