The Encyclopedia of GIS features an alphabetically arranged comprehensive and authoritative treatment of this subject matter. Authored by world experts and peer-reviewed for accuracy and currency, the entries explain the key software, data sets, and processes used by geographers and computational scientists.

Nearly 200 topics include major overviews, such as Geoinformatics, Spatial Cognition, and Location-Based Services. Short entries define specific terms and concepts, such as the Global Positioning System, Digital Elevation/Terrain Model, and Remote Sensing. Larger entries include key citations to the literature, and (online) internal hyperlinks to definitional entries and current standards.

The reference is published as a print volume with abundant black and white art, and simultaneously as an XML online reference with hyperlinked citations, cross-references, four-color art, links to web-based maps, and other interactive features.