Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a broad-encompassing term used for software that has the capacity to conduct analysis and create maps using geospatial information (i.e. data that has a known geographic location). Geographic Information Systems has been around since the 1960s but was a well-kept secret, used mainly by large corporations or research institutions. It did not become a mainstream technology until the Global Positioning System (GPS) became available in the early 1990s. the combining of the GIS, GPS, and variable-rate equipment technologies provided growers the opportunity to display maps and apply variable-rate treatments. The purpose of this chapter is to provide the components of GIS, functions of GIS, qualities of GIS, and strength and weaknesses of different systems.

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