ABSTRACT
Computerized land information systems (LIS) have become useful tools for public and private organizations which perform a wide variety of geographic analysis and land management functions. Automating the production and maintenance of existing maps alone does not satisfy the requirements of these tasks. On this matter, Dueker (1987) affirms the basic distinction between mapping systems and geographic information systems (GIS). While cartographic displays are beneficial, indeed crucial, to spatial analysis, mapping and drafting systems that focus solely on the graphic problem lack the ability to examine the patterns of mapped phenomena, monitor natural resources, or link to other information on ownership, value, and land use.
