Using geography to analyze environmental data helps identify trends and patterns. The fundamental need to quantify these trends and patterns through spatial analysis promoted the development of the earliest GIS.

Environmental GIS describes the use of location-based data management tools to assist in the decision-making processes that together form an environmental management strategy. The application of GIS is not only varied in potential uses but also for specific environmental issues. Specifically, managing forests in today's ever-changing world is becoming an increasingly complex and demanding challenge. Plans, resource considerations, and business decisions are made in an atmosphere of often-conflicting values and with considerable uncertainty.

By definition, environmental studies are conducted in the field where data is retrieved for further analysis. The data itself can be collected in dozens of ways using specific instruments, imagery, and simple field observations. In all circumstances, location is normally one of the parameters recorded. The use of GPS receivers has greatly facilitated the collection of location-based data, which can then be managed using a GIS. However, the data still needs to be imported into the GIS.

For more information, visit www.esri.com/environment and www.esri.com/forestry.