McNiff, Marcia E., Pasquale F. Roscigno, Mary C. Watzin, and Wei JiJensen, Richard W. Russell W. Kiesling, and Frank S. ShipleyProceedings: The Second State of the Bay Symposium. February 4 - 6, 19932010-02-152010-02-151993http://hdl.handle.net/1969.3/24157pgs. 353-354Geographic Information Systems (GIS) offer policymakers and regulatory agencies a tool for storing and retrieving complex databases. Patterns of spatial distribution can be plotted for different variables offering resource managers the capability to develop comprehensive plans within an overall framework. GIS can be used to identify sensitive areas and to study trends over periods of time. The cartographic modeling capabilities of GIS also offer promise for more complex analyses.data retrievaldata storagedata collectionsChapter