What's in a Map? (an Introduction to GIS Technology and its Potential Applications in the Church)

View of the Roman Forum, Giovanni Paolo Panini (1692–1765). Wikipedia.org

Recently I had the opportunity to connect with a woman who works on historical landscape preservation in Rome; this brought me back to thoughts that I’ve had about not just the ecological potentials of the Good Land Project, but also the great potential of future collaborations that could relate to the historical preservation of Holy Sites and landmark pieces of ecclesiastical architecture and landscape design.

As I began to write about mapping historical landscapes, I realized that before I can enlighten my readers regarding the immense potential of landscape planning I also need to provide a basic introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology.

Don't let the technical sound of Geographic Information Systems intimidate you - GIS technology is actually quite simple, and it is incredibly interesting. If you have ever used Google Maps or Map Quest to locate where you are, or to find directions between two points, then you have already used a GIS.

An example of a gvSIG, open source GIS software. Vector data layers are being combined over raster satellite photos in this image. The left side shows where you can show or hide layers; these layers appearance can be edited and their information contents used in analyses, as well. source: "gvSIG 1.0," Emilio Gómez Fernández, Wikipedia.org

Maps can reveal routes for travel from one point to another in the landscape. Maps can also show the location of geographic features, such as a town, bedrock geology patterns, or national boundaries. In the twentieth century, a revolution in geographic sciences occurred with the emergence of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) computer technology. GIS technology provides a way to connect lists of information, like addresses and geographic points, using a computer program that builds a map based on this information. GIS technology made the static Cartesian map a thing of the past, and transformed the map into a dynamic tool for spatial analysis and a way to give vision to discrete data narratives about nations, cities, and homes. A GIS allows massive amounts of information to be overlaid, analyzed, and correlated based on its location in space. In fact, a GIS allows information about virtually any objects, to be geographically and temporally linked. For example,Geographic Information Systems can be employed to create a map that reveals where to send medical resources by connecting epidemiological data with village coordinates using a few simple commands. A GIS can indicate where there have been mass conversions to Catholicism. It could also reveal where Church lands are hosting rare habitats or playing crucial roles in landscape connectivity. All of this can be accomplished by connecting existing data sets with a map of Church lands. The possibilities for increasing our understanding of the Catholic Church’s spatial operations are numerous, and the potential impact of using this understanding for enhancing the lives of large numbers of people is enormous.

Layers of geographically related information stacked, source: Diane Quick, wikipedia

Maps are emerging as one of the most powerful tools of the twenty-first century, and the Church and her operations stand to benefit greatly from the creation of maps of Church lands. GIS software allows information to seamlessly flow between maps, graphs, and other forms of informational representation that can provide visual understandings of large quantities of information that might otherwise be challenging to verbally articulate and understand. In the past few years, the creation of a maps based on crowd-sourced information became possible. This allows mapping Catholic lands to become a global community effort. Maps can be automatically created with data collected by people pinging cell phone signals, by online surveys, and even by individuals simply drawing lines around their properties on a satellite picture. A Church map could be built and constantly edited by the communities within the Catholic Church and connected by a central database. Considering all these factors, making maps of Catholic lands using GIS technology is entirely feasible. Creating maps no longer requires the mapping missionaries of bygone eras. However, it can still be a service to use GIS technology to map new information about the "unmapped" world, and make new or improved data sets available for educational institutions, organizations, and governments.

Why is it called a Geographic Information System rather than a Map?

System is an appropriate word to describe how GIS works. A GIS is a system of tools and information; geospatial (geo - earth, spatial - pertaining to space) analysis involves coordinating and connecting information through a variety of programs or interfaces. There is no one correct way to use a GIS, regardless if you prefer simple coding in an IDE or using a model builder program. However, there are occasions that are more or less appropriate to use different components of a GIS. Working with Geographic Information Systems technology is comparable to creating complex musical tracks by looping and augmenting previously recorded audio tracks. The instruments (tools) can create raw code, AutoCAD documents, Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, Graphic images, etc. GIS Software is like the music mixer; it is what allows all of this information to be recombined and related to its geographic location on the Earth's surface.


Mapping Catholic lands presents an incredible opportunity to reveal a new understanding of the Church, and to explore how virtuous acts, like helping care for a neighborhood, can have a spatial component. It also presents an opportunity to use creative solutions to address pressing environmental concerns to potentially make a lasting impact on the course of climate change. Mapping could present a new way forward for the Church to become more ecologically and socially sustainable, and to use her resources to do good in even more effective ways.

Some Videos for individuals interested in learning more about GIS:

What is a GIS (from esri): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEaMzPo1Q7Q

TEDx Talk on GIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V_Mz7NDy3o

What is LiDAR? (really interesting!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYbhNSUnIdU

What is Raster and Vector data? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwcoZJagfQ

Author: Molly Burhans 
www.goodlandproject.org