By: Timmy Luong, GIS Supervisor | Los Angeles City Planning What is GIS? GIS = Geographic Information System. What does that mean in layman’s terms? GIS is about gathering, managing, and analyzing data — integrating geographic information within layers of data into tables, graphs, and maps to make data more visually presentable. GIS reveals patterns, relationships, and situations, helping users make informed decisions. Over the years, technology has changed the way we look at the world. Today, we are using spatial analysis to evaluate projections, assumptions, and estimates. Rather than numbers listed on a spreadsheet, we can leverage GIS technology to see what others can’t. Hundreds of thousands of organizations in virtually every profession are leveraging GIS to create maps that communicate, share, and address complex problems across the globe. The Role of GIS Technology in Urban Planning? Cities are constantly evolving, which is why GIS has been an important