What is GIS?
Geography is about the distribution of features on the landscape.  GIS stands for Geographical Information System, a technology used for creating, editing, managing and analyzing feature data that occurs on the landscape.  The advantage of online GIS is that the same data - viewed in the form of maps - can be easily shared, updated and customized by individual users or groups.  Users have access to both vector data (points, lines and polygons) and raster data (i.e. satellite imagery, aerial photography).

Points, Lines and Polygons
Vector data must be given coordinates to accurately place it on a map.  A tree in a park, a fire hydrant or your vehicle at a given moment in time are points on a map.  A telephone cable,  railway or the route your vehicle takes from your house to the store are represented as lines.  Polygons are boundaries that could represent your neighbourhood, city, province or even a grazing pasture or emergency response zone. A series of points make a line and any combination of points and lines make a polygon.

Attributes
Additional information that is associated with a point, line or polygon is called attribute data.   The name, address and phone number of a homeowner can be attached to a point.  Street names are commonly attached to the line representing a road, and the name of a neighbourhood and the population of the neighborhood can be attached to a polygon.  The amount of attribute data that can be linked to vector data is limitless. 

Mapping your Data
The TELUS GIS Application one of the largest online GIS data warehouses in North America.  You simply select the base layers of data from our inventory and we combine it with your proprietary data.  The maps and data can then be instantly displayed, analyzed and edited using the system.  You control who has access by assigning individual IDs and passwords - no need for expensive hardware and GIS software -  all you need is access to the Internet.

Advantages
There are thousands of data layers that are already mapped in the TELUS GIS Application, you determine what types of maps you want to see including the geography, themes on the map and features on the map you would want to edit.  We create the maps to your specification, we can add your proprietary data which can be stored on your servers or hosted on ours, and we maintain the base data.  You probably already see how easy this process would be to implement - there is instant deployment over the Internet, the maps are already built to your specifications, and in a two hour training session, you will access a whole new world of information.

The TELUS GIS Application versus Desktop GIS
Vegas odds are paying out 2 to 1 on Internet GIS solutions over desktop solutions - why is that?  Classic expensive desktop GIS solutions, require a trained GIS Analyst to be tied to their computer at the office.  This person will be required to combine base maps with additional data layers for every map they produce.  The final product maps would in no way be interactive, they are static paper output maps or digital screen captures that are placed into reports.

Imagine the freedom of working from home, in the field or at a computer across the hall and being able to not only bring up your map on screen, but edit attribute data associated with point, line or polygon features on the map.  Attach website URLs to points, or associate maintenance reports to water valves, or evacuate residents incase of a sour gas leak. 

You don't need multiple applications to do this - you don't need to be at the office either, this is the freedom of the Internet - this is the power of the TELUS GIS Application.