Web-based GIS is becoming more and more prevalent as time passes. The following is a brief description of what web-based GIS is about. The World-Wide-Web (WWW) is a useful tool for the gathering and manipulation. Most information that is available in the world is now available over the Internet. Now much the same is true concerning GIS information. Where formerly an individual would have to buy an expensive software package to use and manipulate the data needed for GIS, the same is not so today. With the advent of Java based programming, software applications for web-based GIS work are now available. Some of these programs require the user to buy some software, and others require plug-ins to be added to web browsers, but some require no special software additions at all. These use only the capabilities of your existing web browsers Because of these advancements, many people who were not able to easily get information they may want or need before can now have it at their fingertips. People who have an interest in gathering information cam find it accessible like never before. For the first time, the public can examine the same information as the policy makers, for hands-on examination of GIS material. Talk about citizen involvement. Another useful facet of using web-based GIS is that the people giving the information are completely in charge of the amount of information made available to the public. If there were privacy issues surrounding certain bit of information, don't make it accessible to others. It is that simple. People cannot use or abuse information that they do not have. With web-based information distribution, you never need to worry about information falling into "the wrong hands". With Internet connections getting faster and faster, the amount of information that can be transferred over the Internet is staggering. Soon people will be able to examine GIS data while in a foreign country in order to make a purchasing decision on property that he or she has never seen. Analysis of data by a widely scattered group can also be accomplished in a faster, more efficient manner when the information is available almost everywhere in the world. Follow these links to other web-based GIS sites to learn more. NCSU Upper Neuse Region Data System.  An example of a web based GIS system, located at NCSU. ArcView Internet Map Server ArcView Internet Map Server Live Demos ArcViewInternet Map Server Live Demos FAQ ArcView Internet MapServer Live Demos White Paper ArcView Internet MapServer Patch (Windows) ArcViewInternet Map Server Technical Notes ArcView-LSearchable Archives