A geographic information system (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. (See: www.esri.com/what-is-gis/index.html)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA, Coastal Services Center, Glossary Coastal Inundation, SC, USA 2012. http://www.csc.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/inundation/gl ossary, (ND/ Hurr Sci - Amer) {480}