Overview of GIS Evolution and Impact - Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have evolved from transferring paper map information to computers to showcasing diverse topics like health, demographics, and climate [5][6] - Unlike historical limitations, modern GIS provides access to significantly more geographic and cultural data without extensive travel [4][7] - The development of GIS systems like ArcGIS, QGIS, and GrassGis has significantly improved problem-solving capabilities across various sectors in the past 25 years [9] Applications in Disaster Response and Public Health - GIS, particularly ArcGIS, played a vital role in disaster response during the Nepal and Haiti earthquakes by visualizing shelter locations and affected structures [11][12] - During the COVID-19 pandemic, a John Hopkins University GIS dashboard was viewed over 450% billion times within a year, informing the public about cases, deaths, and recoveries [13] - Government leaders using GIS data made 25% more accurate decisions regarding COVID-19 policies compared to those relying on random internet information [15] Cultural and Educational Impact - GIS promotes cultural teaching and global awareness by showcasing linguistic, religious, and cultural content, fostering interconnectedness [16] - Projects like "Locating a National Collection" in the UK enhanced participants' sense of national identity and appreciation for their culture through geographical visualization [17][18] - Google Arts and Cultures utilizes GIS to visualize cultural artifacts and host virtual tours, with their pages viewed over 1 billion times by people from over 190 countries [19][20] Future Trends and Growth - The geoinformatics industry is projected to grow, with an expected market size of $31.2 billion and the addition of over 56,000 GIS analysts to the global workforce [23] - GIS is expected to continue improving the understanding of the world for everyday individuals through in-depth design and research [24]