GIS represents an important new development in the mapping and analysis of information and data in the social sciences, and it has serious implications for research in virtually all of the disciplines represented at Teachers College. As defined on the Columbia University GIS page, a GIS is

"a specialized database that can store and manipulate geographic information.  With GIS, researchers can analyze spatially distributed phenomena by juxtaposing layers of spatial data and by examining intrinsic spatial patterns. GIS brings a new dimension to core research questions of the social science disciplines. It is also a potent tool for research at the interface of the social, health, natural, and environmental sciences, and for work in architecture, preservation, and urban planning."

To search the Columbia University Spatial Data Catalog, go to https://geodata.library.columbia.edu/.

To find additional GIS data on the Web, go to https://library.columbia.edu/services/research-data-services/guides.html.

For general information on the print map collection and overall GIS resources available through the Columbia University Libraries, see http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/maps/index.html.

Information on workshops and other support programs for GIS can be found at http://www.columbia.edu/indiv/dssc/workshops.html, and information on consultation services available through Columbia's Electronic Data Service (EDS) can be found at http://library.columbia.edu/locations/dssc/data/guidelines.html.