GIS on the information super highway (Internet)

Internet, a wide network of computers, has facilitated the accessing and sharing of information around the globe. The World Wide Web (WWW) is a protocol on the Internet which allows hypermedia information retrieval. Geographic information systems (GIS) are being widely employed for diversified applications in resources management, geology, and other fields. Purdue University has developed a WWW-based system which facilitates the exchange and dissemination of geographic and geologic information. GIS data using GRASS (Geographic Resources and Analysis Support Systems), a raster based GIS software, has been made accessible on the Internet. The Web server allows users anywhere on the Internet to manipulate and display the GIS data layers of interest. Additionally, the server supports water resources data for the state of Indiana. Accessibility of GIS on the Internet opens a wide area of information transfer and will enable users to access and share spatial data for various applications.