introduction :
the aim of this topic is to introduce the main categories of GIS in brief and then trying to dig in depth according to the discussions that evolve between the participating members, i will try my best in this session to write in a lucid and a simple manner that faciltiates the participation of both beginners and professionals. Anyhow my words are not that like Quranic verses , i claim from the very beginning they may contain errors , it is your job my brother to correct these errors and it will be my pleasure to rewrite them in a punctuate manner. BUT it is not my intension to dissiminate errors , they are something related to human beings activities.

LET'S Begin............

What is GIS?

GIS is a combination of hardware, software, geographic information ( this is the stuff that make all guys scream ) and skilled personnel. Every one should be aware of GIS, this simply because every one is doing some activity somewhere, it is this some where that GIS is running after.
If we think a little we can classify GIS works into three main categories:

Ø science,

Ø technology

Ø and applications,

Without going in depth Geosciences run after the principles that govern the geographic phenomena and the scientific issues are mainly discussed in academic benches, journals, conferences and etc...
GIS technologies , run after the techniques that best represent this geographic phenomena , depending on 4 fundamentals parts which are the:

Ø network,

Ø hardware,

Ø software

Ø and the database.
While GIS applications are suited to various fields in making use of this geographic phenomena, in a way that facilitates their job. For instance surveyors are using GIS in a way that facilitates their jobs, geoscientists use it in a different manner, geologists and environmentalists have their own ways in playing a GIS game.