A GIS is most often asociated with maps. A map, however,is only one way you can work with geograohic data in a GIS,and only one type of product generated by a GIS.This is important,beacuse it means that a GIS can provide a great deal more problem-solving capabilities than using a simple mapping program or adding data to an online mapping tool.A GIS is a set of intelligent maps and other views that show features and feature realtionships on the earth's surface.Maps of the underlying geographic information can be constructed and used as "windows int the databse"to support queries,analysis and editing of the information.