5.1 INTRODUCTION

While many historians regard GIS as being substantially about mapping, it is hoped that, having reached this stage of this book, it is clear to the reader that GIS is about far more than this: GIS is effectively a spatial database technology concerned with structuring, integrating, visualising and analysing spatially referenced data. The map, and visualisation more generally, is the most readily accessible way of communicating the data held within the GIS and the results from any GIS analysis. It is, however, a huge mistake to equate GIS and mapping as one and the same. If a researcher is simply interested in creating a number of maps as part of a research article, then conventional cartography – probably using a computer – is likely to be the best way to proceed (Knowles, 2000). There are two reasons for this: firstly, the length of time that it takes to create a GIS database, and secondly, GIS tends to lead to rather formulaic maps based around points, lines and polygons, whereas traditional cartography, whether or not it is done on a computer, allows for more freedom of expression.

Nevertheless, GIS and mapping are inseparable.