Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are systems of hardware, software, and procedures to facilitate the management, manipulation, analysis, modeling, representation, and visualization of geo-referenced data to solve complex problems regarding the planning and management of resources.It is the ability to produce a map image that sets GIS apart from other database systems. Perhaps more simply, a GIS gives you tools to answer questions about a location (geographic information). You can combine layers of information stored in a database that may include addresses, aerial photographs, dates, and other numerical values.