What is a GIS?

A GIS is a computer system capable of holding and using data describing places on the surface of the earth. A GIS contains both coordinate (where something is) and attibute (what something is) information, essentially combining map information with database information. GIS is a powerful tool because it allows for the analysis of the relationship between geographic objects and quick, "what if" scenario building. For more information, you can view an INTRODUCTION TO GIS Slide Show by Michael Martin.

A simple example of GIS in action is to imagine a map of New York State with the county boundaries shown. A GIS could be created that associates census data for each county with the county shapes. We could then use the GIS to perform an analysis and create a resulting map. In this example, we have used the GIS to analyze the counties based upon the number of farms in each county, producing a new map to illustrate the results.

Qualifications

Environmental GIS Development

Cedar Eden Environmental, LLC specializes in the design, implementation and management of GIS projects for Environmental Resource and Natural Features Inventories, Municipal Wastewater and Comprehensive Management Plans, Agricultural Environmental Management, Watershed Management, Regional Water Quality Assessment, and Land Use Mapping.

Michael Martin has been involved in GIS for over 15 years, beginning as a member of the State of New Hampshire's GIS Steering Committee in the mid-1980s. Michael is an accomplished GIS expert and was recognized as such by being one of only 100 world-wide recipients of the Geodyssey award for use of desktop GIS technology for environmental management. He has taught a college-level GIS-related course, provides specialized GIS training to New York State Conservation District Employees and others, and conducts a GIS for Watershed Management workshop at the annual International Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society.

Custom GIS Training & Seminars • onsite or regional workshops

first row photos by Robert Brower • second row photos by Emily E. Martin

Complete GIS Capabilities

Cedar Eden Environmental, LLC has a full range of the latest hardware and software to complete your GIS projects. We are standardized on ArcView 3.2a and ArcGIS 8.1.2 running on a 1.9 GHz Pentium 4 Dell Dimension 8200 workstation. In addition to a wide selection of standard input and output devices (scanners, digitizers, laser and inkjet printers), we have a Hewlett-Packard DesignJet 500 capable of high-resolution color output in widths up to 42 inches.

Case Studies:

Visit our Case Studies Page to read selected GIS Project Case Studies. View our Client List to learn more about our diversity of projects, clients, and services.

• Adirondack Clean Waters Initiative
• Blue Mountain Lake Watershed Development Impact Modeling
• Conservation District Employees Training
• Coolbaugh Township Wastewater Management Plan
• Columbia County NY GIS Data Library
• Franklin County Agricultural Environmental Management
• Fulton County Agricultural Zone Redistricting
• Lake Nockamixon Watershed Management Program
• Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management Program
• Lewis County Agricultural Environmental Management
• NY State Dept. of Ag & Markets Statewide AEM GIS Initiative
• Pike County PA Water Quality Trends Analysis
• Santa Clara Land Use Plan Map
• Smithfield Township Wastewater Management Plan
• West Long Branch Natural Resource and Open Space Management