GIS
GIS is growing as a means of working with geographic information and has the ability to improve service delivery in many areas.
From calculating travel times between destinations and finding out the most efficient routes, to detailed land analysis for survey, planning and development; GIS is a powerful tool for analysing and communicating data related to places.
Multiple layers of spatial information from various sources are added to the GIS to create a custom view of an area of interest. When client data is added, this creates a unique information product - a map that communicates specific aspects of the data.
This farm map has been created to calculate land eligible for EU farm subsidy payment. Background mapping showing roads, buildings and field boundaries, with additional information captured during farm survey showing areas ineligible for payment and protected environmental features.

GIS manipulation, analysis and presentation of spatial data is valuable to many organisations. We work with local authorities, community groups and schools to provide Open Source GIS support and help leverage various forms of geographic information.

GIS and mapping are increasingly useful for community organisations. These tools help present information known by local communities to a wider audience via mapping interfaces - otherwise known as community mapping.
NMS ran a workshop in November 2019 with Cairde Turas, a Belfast-based cultural heritage organisation who are producing research into the birth-places of Irish-speaking East Belfast WWI volunteers.
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We used information that the group have sourced from public records and Open Source mapping resources to help Cairde Turas develop an online interactive map which can be found on the project's website.
Increasing amounts of valuable and accurate spatial information are available through initiatives like the EU INSPIRE Directive, data.gov.uk, data.gov.ie and OpenDataNI portals. When added as layers into a GIS, this information can be manipulated and presented in a limitless variety of ways to help understand and communicate the world around us.
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We specialise in finding spatial data from a wide range of online and archival sources and adding these to mapping projects according to client needs. We also work on the ground to capture geographic information with community groups, individuals and local authorities.
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Once added into a GIS project, this information can be analysed and manipulated to produce powerful results.