GIS tasks: Answering questions

A geographic information system is used to find answers to questions that are related to space. It can be used to explore the relationships between data distributed over an area, it can search for and identify patterns that may not be apparent, and it makes it possible to link or analyze information that is difficult to associate through any other means. Thus, a GIS can use combinations of mapped variables to build and analyze new variables and present them in an understandable way. A GIS can reveal important new information that leads to better understanding of complex circumstances and thus improves decision-making.
It is typically used to answer questions similar to the following: