What is GIS?

GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, integrate and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts.

Roles & Responsibilities in Cook County (Who we are and what we do?)

Cook County GIS is a division of the MIS department and is responsible for developing, maintaining, and analyzing geographic data used to assist our customers in making informed decisions through the use of maps and other GIS related tools and products. Some key responsibilities are:

•  Maintain Cook County's parcel map
•  Maintain E911 mapping system

•  Maintain E911 addressing system
•  Map and query production

Different county departments develop and maintain important information (in separate databases) about these and other spatially related features. The real power of a GIS is realized in its ability to integrate these different databases into one unified enterprise information system. This level of data integration affords a high degree of efficiency across county departments and allows county staff and government officials to more effectively answer questions like: How many acres of private land are in the county? and What does the distribution of these lands look like relative to quality road access?

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