A closely related computer capability is a CAD system (computer aided design). CAD systems are used to prepare detailed drawings and plans for engineering and planning applications. While CAD systems functions are different from GIS functions, many commercial CAD products have some of the functionality normally found in a GIS. There are, however, significant differences between a CAD system and a GIS, mainly in the structure of the data base. There may be some need for CAD-type capabilities in a particular local government, so this forms another category of use.
 

In general, geographic information in local government is used to:

• Respond to public inquiries,
• Perform routine operations such as application reviews and permit approvals, and
• Provide information on the larger policy issues requiring action by the town board.

These are typical local government activities which benefit from a geographic information system. The development of GIS will facilitate the present geographic information handling tasks and should lead to the development of additional applications of benefit to the local government.
 

Excerpted from
Geographic Information System Development Guides - Needs Assessment
 New York State Archives and Records Administration
Internet Document - URL:http://www.sara.nysed.gov/pubs/gis/gisindex.htm