Geographic information Market and Products
GI Market Information
Estimating the size of the market for GI (data) and GIS (GI systems software and hardware) has never been an easy
task. The major IT market research firms periodically attempt to estimate the size to the "GIS marketplace" based on a
range of (usually different!) market sector definitions across various geographical regions. In recent years, these firms
have also started to include figures for "data and data related services". These tend to be even more variable in
definition than the GIS component of the market estimate. The market projections are almost always "global" in scope,
based heavily on supply-side information from the USA/North America GI/GIS vendors and less so from other
geographic regions of the world, including Europe.
In this section of the GI2000 Web site, we attempt to look at GI market place figures which have been forecast for
different parts of Europe and other regions around the world, from various viewpoints (based on different definitions of
the "market for GI"), in order to try to better understand the overall market place. Just as there is seldom agreement
(except in scope) on the North American or global GIS market size projections from the competing market research
firms (for a variety of reasons), so too we often find considerable variances in GI market predictions even within
Europe.
Readers please note: The information presented on these pages is NOT a formal survey or forecast of European
GI/GIS market size. Rather, it is an attempt to bring together in one place the many different sets of numbers,
assumptions and predictions being made in regard to the "GI market" from across Europe and from around the worl
GI Documentation Library
Full-text GI reports from DG XIII/E, DG III and other EU Institutions, an extensive list of "landmark GI & GIS
studies" selected by our experts, and the historical archives (including IMPACT2).
Maps and Products Links
By popular request, we use these pages to list Web sites which provide interactive, on-line or downloadable maps, in
various formats (usually .GIF or .JPG), many of which are available copyright free. Many of the maps are derived
from the USA National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA - formerly the Defense Mapping Agency) Digital
Chart of the World which covers the whole world at a scale of 1 : 1,000,000. DCW maps are available per region
and per country, showing various themes, including political boundaries, land use and demographic information. Many
of the maps are surprisingly current, with data available from as recently as 1996 and 1997.
Access thousands of copyright free, downloadable maps from sites around the world.
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Readers are invited and encouraged to comment on the information presented here, to inform us of other market
information or documentation which may exist and to be critical of these data and assumptions. Comments, corrections or additions
should be supported by a reference against which corrected or new information can be checked. Comments can
be sent to the GI Discussion Forum. This document will be updated as often as new information is brought to our attention
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