GIS is at work around the world and across your neighborhood. Here's a list of everyday tasks for which GIS is used:

• Planning school bus routes based on student residences

• Studying water consumption patterns in arid areas

• Designing noise abatement buffer zones around an airport

• Mapping current sewer service areas and projected need

• Profiling present bank customers by branch office

• Identifying telephone market territories across the country

• Researching changing wildlife habitat in a national park

• Modeling hurricane evacuation scenarios in a coastal city

• Laying out neighborhood newspaper delivery routes

• Analyzing patterns of toxic wastes in area soils

• Documenting archaeological sites and findings

• Viewing global vegetation cover from satellite images