Find the best Geographic Information System (GIS) Software

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MaintainX

MaintainX is a web-based CMMS tool that can be used on mobile devices. It aims to improve workflow completion and strengthen team communication. It can be used by operational teams in small to large businesses. This solution allow...Read more about MaintainX

4.8 (552 reviews)

46 recommendations

EZOfficeInventory

EZOfficeInventory is a dynamic asset and maintenance management solution tailored for companies of all sizes. The cloud-based software works as you do and is accessible from anywhere and at any time. Track items across locati...Read more about EZOfficeInventory

4.6 (1465 reviews)

21 recommendations

UpKeep

UpKeep is an Asset Operations Management solution that helps businesses scale by giving every Maintenance and Reliability team the tools and information they need to run Operations efficiently and effectively. From your desktop to...Read more about UpKeep

4.6 (1326 reviews)

5 recommendations

Asset Essentials

Asset Essentials by Brightly Software (formerly Dude Solutions) is a next-generation work and asset management platform designed for smarter, more efficient maintenance and operations. Brightly, now a Siemens company, is the globa...Read more about Asset Essentials

4.4 (248 reviews)

4 recommendations

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Google Maps

Google Maps is a cloud-based GIS software that allows businesses to create and manage maps, in addition to providing navigation services. It is used by businesses of all kinds, from restaurants to construction companies. Google M...Read more about Google Maps

ArcGIS

ArcGIS is a mapping and analytics solution that helps businesses in healthcare, banking, manufacturing and other industries manage field operations, data collection, visualization, workflow configuration and more. Field workers ca...Read more about ArcGIS

MapBusinessOnline

MapBusinessOnline is mapping software for business intelligence. Thousands of businesses choose MapBusinessOnline to design and present insightful maps, manage territories, perform market analysis, optimize logistics, and more. M...Read more about MapBusinessOnline

BatchGeo

BatchGeo is a geographic information system (GIS) that helps businesses create interactive maps using a drag-and-drop interface and publish them across websites. It enables employees to collect spatial, geographical or sales infor...Read more about BatchGeo

LocationIQ

LocationIQ is a cloud-based geographic information system (GIS) tool that helps businesses visualize location data on maps and convert them into street addresses using geocoding APIs. Professionals can convert location coordinates...Read more about LocationIQ

Simpro

Simpro is a powerful job management software solution created by trade contractors, for trade contractors. If your business struggles with quoting multi-stage projects, managing inventory, communicating with technicians, or any ot...Read more about Simpro

Tree Plotter INVENTORY

TreePlotter INVENTORY is a cloud-based GIS solution for field data collection and tree inventory management. It is suitable for local governments, non-profit organizations, private tree care firms, and other businesses. This solut...Read more about Tree Plotter INVENTORY

QGIS

QGIS is an open-source GIS solution that helps businesses streamline processes related to map creation, data exporting, map labeling, spatial analysis, and more on a centralized platform. It enables staff members to utilize a drag...Read more about QGIS

ETAP

ETAP is an energy, power and distribution management solution designed to help businesses in manufacturing, mining, fossil fuel generation, transportation and other industries predict system behavior, schedule electrical transacti...Read more about ETAP

GovPilot

GovPilot is a cloud-based solution that helps municipalities automate daily tasks and streamline communications between multiple departments. Key features include task assignment, GIS mapping, event-based triggers, project trackin...Read more about GovPilot

Google Earth Pro

Google Earth Pro is a free desktop tool with advanced GIS and mapping features. It can be downloaded on PC, Mac, and Linux devices. With this tool, users can create maps, import and export GIS data, and access historical images. A...Read more about Google Earth Pro

Maptitude

Maptitude GIS and mapping software is the most capable and cost-effective solution to: ➡ Optimize sales territories, vehicle routes, and site locations ➡ Visualize, analyze, and present mission-critical data ➡ Maximize profits, t...Read more about Maptitude

AeroMegh

AeroMegh is a SaaS Platform that Transforms Drone Data into Actionable Insights. AeroMegh offers three products that enable flying and capturing drone data, processing drone data, and analyzing drone data. AeroGCS is a GCS Softwa...Read more about AeroMegh

PropertyIntel

PropertyIntel, an Aspire solution, is a cloud-based takeoff and enhancement design software explicitly crafted for landscape and irrigation contractors to bid, win, and service more jobs in less time. Upload your landscape plan ...Read more about PropertyIntel

eSpatial

eSpatial is a cloud-based mapping software that helps share, visualize and analyze multiple layers of data by transforming spreadsheets into comprehensible maps and graphs. Primarily catering small to large businesses, the softwar...Read more about eSpatial

Scribble Maps

Scribble Maps helps businesses create and deploy maps. The solution can be deployed on any screen or device, including computers, tablets, and smartphones. Scribble Maps assists with exporting data in CSV format for easy sharing ...Read more about Scribble Maps

Buyers Guide

Last Updated: March 16, 2023

Managing large scale construction projects and tracking assets across multiple locations requires clear communication and accurate data. Without both, your chances of accidentally bursting a pipe or severing utility cables rises sharply.

Geographic information systems (GIS) offer the platform to collaborate with multiple workers on a map with several customizable layers and icons so users can pinpoint the exact information they need, visualized how they want.

This guide is designed to describe the capabilities and benefits of a GIS and help you determine the features you need.

Here's what we'll cover:

What Is a Geographic Information System?

Common Features of Geographic Information Systems

Common Integrations With Geographic Information Systems

Benefits of Geographic Information Systems

What Type of Buyer Are You?

What Is a Geographic Information System?

A GIS is a platform for managing and tracking information and assets spread across a geographical area. Because of its versatility, a GIS is used by several types of organizations.

The system is most valuable when used collaboratively so that multiple people can add and edit accurate asset and location details. In this way, a GIS serves as an evolving repository of asset data.

A-view-of-underground-water-pipe-system-in-ArcGIS-from-ESRI

A view of underground water pipe system in ArcGIS from ESRI

Utility companies, municipal and county governments, civil engineers, cartographers, health organizations and even schools are using GIS software to visualize information combined with geographic data.

Common Features of Geographic Information Systems

At its core, a GIS offers a customizable map interface to overlay assets and other details, but it also offers multiple ways to edit and manage the data. These capabilities may include:

Web mapping

Create, edit and share geographic maps and add multiple unique layers, each with customizable data for a specific type of asset, such as water pump locations or linear assets. Most modern GIS products store maps in the cloud and are accessible from any web-enabled device.

Data visualization

Notate maps in various ways, using icons to display different types of assets and locations, color coded areas, text labels, legends, topographical layers and more. Maps can be layered to view different kinds of data simultaneously.

Asset management

Embeddable details for each asset label, including information typically stored within a maintenance-focused system: age, type, materials, repair history and remote or on-site condition readings.

Work order management

Trigger work orders for assets on the map with associated location data included so field technicians know exactly where to perform the task.

Routing

Fleet vehicle routing capabilities help field workers get to a job location quickly to save time and prevent more costly repairs.

Analysis and reporting

Generate reports and visualize data to answer important operational questions about the health of assets, efficiency of field workers or which area generates the most work requests.

Common Integrations with Geographic Information Systems

Integrations play a big role in the value of a GIS. Whatever your specific use case, it's important to evaluate vendors by the system's ability to integrate with software you need, such as:

  • Maintenance management (CMMS), facilities management (CAFM) or enterprise asset management (EAM) systems complement your location data with the ability to track repair histories, condition-based maintenance, depreciation of assets and manage preventive maintenance.

  • Automated vehicle location (AVL) software offers GPS capabilities to a GIS platform so users can locate and assign a task to the most properly equipped field worker to prevent a catastrophic failure.

  • Customer information system (CIS) is software often used by utility providers to manage customer data. Pairing this with a GIS can improve accuracy of the metering and billing process.

  • Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is an industrial control protocol used in many industries, including utility production and distribution, and can be used in tandem with a GIS for remote asset monitoring capabilities.

  • Social media integration, a newer source of data, uses mentions from social channels to identify problems. For example, if enough people tweet with a specific hashtag in a specific area, GIS users can find potholes, leaks or other issues more quickly.

Benefits of Geographic Information Systems

GIS users can experience several accuracy, efficiency and cost-saving benefits, such as:

More accurate location information. A primary benefit of using a GIS system is removing the guesswork from locating a buried asset, such as a water pipe or cable, so that crews don't accidently damage critical infrastructure.

Quicker response to failures. A GIS with GPS enabled helps governments and other organizations dispatch workers who are nearby and have the tools necessary to complete a task. Routing assistance makes sure the field worker can reach the site of a failure as soon as possible to minimize costs and damages.

Evolving platform for data. As work orders are completed and new assets are installed, data is added to the GIS platform. Over time, it becomes a valuable repository for data that can be utilized for years.

What Type of Buyer Are You?

Depending on your organization's specific use of the GIS, you'll find some functionality more useful than others. Inquire about demos for these features to make sure they're easy to use and scalable for your business.

Government organizations with road crews need to identify road problems quickly. Social media integration allows the public to be your eyes and ears for roadway issues, so make sure the system can import and process various types of data to catch problems as soon as possible.

Utility companies want to track distribution infrastructure and replace pipes before a leak occurs to avoid costly damages. Evaluate asset management capabilities—they should alert companies to infrastructure that is due for inspection or repairs.

Civil engineers must use all information possible to plan new roadways or structures, and a GIS can help by displaying easements, topography details and other geographic data that could hinder construction. Ask vendors about the types of map layers available and how they interact.