Designed to make the complexity of this essential high-tech field accessible to beginners, this text provides a basic, non-technical, and reader-friendly introduction to geographic information systems. In one convenient source, its comprehensive, integrated coverage examines the basic GIS material that is traditionally scattered throughout various Geography sources-e.g., in Cartography, GIS spatial analysis, and quantitative methods. Clarke's "learn-by-seeing" approach features clear, simple explanations, and an abundance of illustrations and photos. What Is a GIS? GIS's Roots in Cartography. Maps as Numbers. Getting the Map into the Computer. What Is Where? Why Is It There? On the Surface. Making Maps with GIS. How to Pick a GIS. GIS in Action. The Future of GIS. A comprehensive, readable reference for anyone interested in learning more about Geographic Information Systems.