Geographic Information System (GIS)
A geographic information system (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of spatial or geographical data. Geographic Information System (GIS) technology maps the geography of an organisation’s data to expose patterns and relationships otherwise hidden in the information labyrinths of numeric tables and databases. By visually representing data on a map, complex scenarios are translated into a universal language – one that enables employees at all levels to make informed decisions confidently and in a timely manner. - See more at: https://esriaustralia.com.au/about-gis#sthash.CS5brMBw.dpuf
The general architecture of a GIS is described above.
Modern GIS technologies use digital information, for which various digitized data creation methods are used. The most common method of data creation is digitization, where a hard copy map or survey plan is transferred into a digital medium through the use of a CAD program, and geo-referencing capabilities. With the wide availability of ortho-rectified imagery (from satellites, aircraft, Helikites and UAVs), heads-up digitizing is becoming the main avenue through which geographic data is extracted. Heads-up digitizing involves the tracing of geographic data directly on top of the aerial imagery instead of by the traditional method of tracing the geographic form on a separate digitizing tablet (heads-down digitizing).