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Geographical
Information Systems (GIS)
A Geographical
Information System (GIS) is a computer-based system which lets you to
display graphically the geographic elements of a set of data. The data
are usually displayed by combining them with pre-existing mapping
information.
One example of the application of GIS software might be for a
scientific experiment which is investigating the number of frogs
present in an area of marshland near a factory in order to decide
whether pollution from the factory is harming nearby frogs. Scientists
would count the frogs in the marshland, and the exact latitude and
longitude position of each frog could be noted by using a GPS device.
Using a GIS, these data could be combined with a map of the marshland
and factory area to display red dots on the map to show where the frog
concentration is populated.
Location-Based Services
(LBS)
A Location-Based
Service (LBS) is a service which uses knowledge provided about where a
user is located in order to deliver information relevant to the user's
position.
LBS services can use one of many positioning technologies. The most
basic might be typing in a postal code or street address, and more
sophisticated ones would include GPS or Assisted GPS (A-GPS)
technologies based on mobile telephony networks.
LBS content can be either local (such as stored on a computer or PDA in
a software application) or network-based, such as on a web site on the
Internet. An example of a local content system might be a piece of road
mapping or routing software, and an example of remote content might be
a mobile restaurant finder or taxi ordering service.
As mobile Internet connections become more widely available, it is
expected that many services will become available and that the market
will grow extensively.
A2B
is a
Location-Based Service. Here at A2B you can upload your position using
a GPS device, or enter it manually on the website, and we can then
deliver searches based on what's near the position we have for you.
We're big LBS enthusiasts at A2B, and hope to see our service on mobile
phones
very soon!
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