Geospatial Information Systems (GIS)

A geospatial or geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.

GIS allows users to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts.

GIS Task Force - on May 15, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger called for the creation of a task force to develop a statewide strategy to enhance the technology for environmental protection, natural resource management, traffic flow, emergency preparedness and response, land use planning and health and human services. 

• Task Force Members
• Announcements

Throughout more than 20 state agencies, there are many GIS applications offered by the state government.

Some examples include:

California Schoolfinder website
http://www.schoolfinder.ca.gov

Office of Emergency Services - Interactive Map of Fires in California
http://www.oes.ca.gov/WebPage/oeswebsite.nsf/InteractiveMap?readForm

Resources Agency's Geospatial Information Office
http://gio.resources.ca.gov

Resources Agency - California Environmental Resources Evaluation System
http://www.ceres.ca.gov/

The CAL FIRE Fire and Resource Assessment Program
http://frap.cdf.ca.gov/data/frapgisdata/select.asp

Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development - Healthcare Atlas
http://www.oshpd.ca.gov/General_Info/Healthcare_Atlas.html

California Broadband Task Force Report, Report on broadband penetration
http://www.calink.ca.gov/taskforce/appendix_wirelessmaps.asp

California Department of Transportation - Live Traffic Information
http://www.dot.ca.gov/travel/index.php?submit=Go%20To%20High%20Speed

Department of Motor Vehicles - Field Office Locator Map
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/fo/offices/locator/locator.htm

Air Resources Board - Community Health Air Pollution Information System
http://www.arb.ca.gov/ch/chapis1/chapis1.htm

California Geological Survey - Seismic Shaking Hazards in California
http://redirect.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/rghm/pshamap/pshamain.html

California Historical Earthquake Online Database http://redirect.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/rghm/quakes/historical/index.htm

Department of Conservation - Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources
http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dog/maps/Pages/index_map.aspx

Department of Fish and Game - Biogeographic Data Branch GIS Unit
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/gis/

Department of Food and Agriculture - Pierce's Disease Control Program Maps
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/pdcp/map_index.html

Department of Toxic Substances - Cleanup Sites and Hazardous Waste Permitted Facilities
http://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public

Employment Development Department - Local Workforce Investment Areas in California
http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/?PAGEID=185

California Energy Commission - California On-Line Energy Maps
http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps/index.html

State Water Resources Control Board - Water Rights Maps
http://waterrightsmaps.waterboards.ca.gov/ewrims/gisapp.aspx

Network for a Healthy California
http://www.cnngis.org/

Environmental Health Investigation Tools and Data
http://www.ehib.org/toollist.jsp

 

Other State GIS Resources

GIS Library

Data Discovery Tool