Editing Geographic information system (section)

===Data analysis===
It is difficult to relate [[wetlands]] maps to [[rainfall]] amounts recorded at different points such as airports, television stations, and schools. A GIS, however, can be used to depict two- and three-dimensional characteristics of the Earth's surface, subsurface, and atmosphere from information points. For example, a GIS can quickly generate a map with [[isopleth]] or [[contour line]]s that indicate differing amounts of rainfall. Such a map can be thought of as a rainfall contour map. Many sophisticated methods can estimate the characteristics of surfaces from a limited number of point measurements. A two-dimensional contour map created from the surface modeling of rainfall point measurements may be overlaid and analyzed with any other map in a GIS covering the same area. This GIS derived map can then provide additional information - such as the viability of [[water power]] potential as a [[renewable energy]] source. Similarly, GIS can be used to compare other [[renewable energy]] resources to find the best geographic potential for a region.<ref>K. Calvert, J. M. Pearce, W.E. Mabee, "Toward renewable energy geo-information infrastructures: Applications of GIScience and remote sensing that can build institutional capacity" ''Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews'' 18, pp. 416–429 (2013). [https://www.academia.edu/2180165/Toward_renewable_energy_geo-information_infrastructures_Applications_of_GIScience_and_remote_sensing_that_build_institutional_capacity open access]</ref>

Additionally, from a series of three-dimensional points, or [[digital elevation model]], isopleth lines representing elevation contours can be generated, along with slope analysis, [[shaded relief]], and other elevation products. Watersheds can be easily defined for any given reach, by computing all of the areas contiguous and uphill from any given point of interest. Similarly, an expected [[thalweg]] of where surface water would want to travel in intermittent and permanent streams can be computed from elevation data in the GIS.