|  In the last 30 years, technology has rapidly and dramatically 
			changed our lives and in many instances even saves lives. One of the 
			most influential applications of computers has been the development 
			of geographic information systems. Commonly referred to as a GIS, it 
			is a computerized system that overlays data on a geographic area. The National Weather Service is one of the many agencies that are 
			using tailor-made GIS products on a daily basis. If you check the weather online 
			or watch the news, you have probably seen or used GIS many times 
			over.  The NWS has extensively developed weather-related products in 
			conjunction with GIS, such as the interactive, real-time weather 
			warning images over maps and much more, which probably saved lives 
			just this past Sunday. To read more on how the NWS and NOAA use GIS,
			click here. 
			 
			[to top of second column] | 
 
 
            For more information on Logan County's geographic information 
			system, see 
			http://www.co.logan.il.us/gis/. To see the Logan County GIS, 
			choose "Internet 
			Mapping."  
            [LDN] 
            
			 |