GIS began to take off in the early 1980s when software-makers integrated mapping into computer-aided technology. Today's GIS tools allow users to create searches, analyze spatial information and edit data to reveal spatial relationships, patterns and trends in an easily understood manner.

BNP Media's market research division worked with POB to conduct a study to provide information on trends involving GIS tools. The results show that the demand for GIS services is rising with the majority of respondents including GIS in their survey workflow or offering it as a service.