1.1.1. GIS and LBS

The Illustration from "Brimicombe" (Brimicombe 2002) shows that GIS and LBS have some particular similarities. Such common features are the handling of data with positional reference and spatial analysis functions (LBS-services) which give answers to questions like:

• “Where am I?”
• “What is near by?” or
• “How can I go to?”

But LBS and GIS have different origins and different user groups as described by (2004).

(2004) analyse that GIS have been developed during several decades on the basis of professional geographic data applications. Whereas LBS were born quite recently by the evolution of public mobile services. With respect to user groups, GIS can be seen as traditional “professional” systems intended for experienced users with wide collection of functionality. Furthermore GI-Systems require extensive computing resources. In contrast, the LBS are developed as limited services for large non-professional user groups. Such LBS applications operating with the restrictions of mobile computing environment like low computational power, small displays or battery run time of the mobile device.

If you don't know what Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are, have a look on this GIS e-learning Project www.GITTA.info