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1. What is GIS?

A Geographic Information System (GIS), is any system that captures, stores, analyzes, manages, and presents data that is linked to location. In the simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography and database technology. Geographic Information Systems are used in the following areas:

• Cartography
• Emergency management
• Geography
• Land surveying
• Localized search engines
• Navigation
• Photogrammetry
• Remote sensing
• Urban planning

2. Where can I find more information about GIS?

A good place to start is to visit GIS.com. GIS.com is a portal to GIS information on the web and was created by ESRI, a GIS software developer. The site is intended to educate anyone interested in geographic technology on the value that technology brings to his or her day-to-day activities.

3. What types of maps are available?

Cherokee County offers a free Interactive Map Viewer that allows users to see maps of Cherokee County, N.C. showing property lines, streets, addresses, photography, and other information. It is a very user friendly program designed for the novice user. 

4. Are digital data sets available for the public?

Yes, GIS data is now available to the public free of charge from the GIS Data Gateway. The GIS Data Gateway is a collection of data layers and applications from our GIS data library, which are downloadable in database or shapefile format.

5. What projection is the data in?

The data is in the following projections:

• Coordinate System: North Carolina State Plane
• Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic
• Datum: NAD83
• Units: Feet

6. Where is the GIS Office located?

View the location and contact information for the office.