GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, are powerful frameworks pairing information with geographic location, through the use of:

1. computers
2. GPS and satellite technology
3. aerial photography
4. existing data collected from traditional means such as surveys and plats
5. locally collected data
6. data from a vast network of other GIS users

As we continue to progress in technology, GIS increasingly becomes the global standard and integral tool for mapping and analysis with an undeniable precision and efficiency. For Skamania County, it allows us to manage assets and records, observe trends and situations, reach better conclusions, and make smarter decisions for all of our departments, including Emergency Management, Community Development, Public Works, Assessment, and Auditor, to name a few.