CHAPTER 1

The Growing Role of GIS

GIS technology, or the marriage of databases and maps, allows analysts, planners, and government decision-makers to visualize vast amounts of geographic information.

With a global focus on climate change, there is a significant need for renewable energy sources like solar, wind, water, and geothermal energy. These climate-friendly solutions have the potential to shift world engery consumption—but they require careful planning. That's where GIS comes in.

Harvesting solar energy typically requires acres of solar panel farms. To find the perfect location, GIS professionals first consider nearby electrical infrastructure that can handle solar energy generation.
GIS technology helps analysts evaluate a landscape—from mountains and valleys to vegetation and soil type—to understand how wind is distributed and if the location is a suitable site for renewable energy.
Geothermal energy is clean, sustainable heat from the Earth. GIS mapping techniques help planners identify and visualize active geothermal areas such as hot springs, volcanoes, and fumaroles.

As great as renewable energy is, it can’t be used everywhere. The question is, why not?

With GIS technology and mapping, policymakers and planning commissions can more easily determine the right location for renewable energy. This is because GIS allows for deep analysis of wind potential, solar potential, distance to cities, population size, and type of land cover. GIS can even tell project planners the social and environmental impact a renewable energy plant may have on area habitats or migratory patterns. All this information illustrates which locations are ideal for implementing renewable energy resources versus those that would be a waste of resources and money.