Internet GIS, or Internet Geographic Information Systems, is a term that refers to a broad set of technologies and applications that employ the internet to access, analyze, visualize, and distribute spatial data.^[1][2][3]

Internet GIS is an outgrowth of traditional Geographic Information Systems or GIS, and represents a paradigm shift from conducting GIS on an individual computer to working with remotely distributed data and functions.^[1] Internet GIS is a subset of Distributed GIS, but specifically uses the internet rather than generic computer networks. Internet GIS applications are often, but not exclusively, conducted through the World Wide Web, giving rise to the sub-branch of WebGIS, often used interchangeably with Internet GIS.^{[1][4][5][6][7]} While WebGIS is has become nearly synonymous with Internet GIS, the two are as distinct as the internet is from the World Wide Web.^{[1][4][5][6][7]} Likewise, Internet GIS is as distinct from Distributed GIS as distributed computer networks are from the internet.^[1]

The history of Internet Geographic Information Systems is linked to the history of the computer, the internet, and the quantitative revolution in geography. Geography tends to adapt technologies from other disciplines rather than innovating and inventing the technologies employed to conduct geographic studies.^[8] The computer and internet are not an exception, and were rapidly investigated to purpose towards the needs of geographers. In 1959, Waldo Tobler published the first paper detailing the use of computers in map creation.^[9] This was the beginning of computer cartography, or the use of computers to create maps.^[10][11] In 1960, the first true Geographic Information System capable of storing, analyzing, changing, and creating visualizations with spatial data was created by Roger Tomlinson on behalf of the Canadian Government to manage natural resources.^[12][13] These technologies represented a paradigm shift in cartography and geography, with desktop computer cartography facilitated through GIS rapidly replaced traditional ways of making maps.^[8] The emergence of GIS and computer technology contributed to the quantitative revolution in geography and the emergence of the branch of technical geography.^[14][15]

Computer technology progressed as computer technology advanced and the desktop machine became the default for the production of maps. These computers were networked together to share data and processing power, and create redundant communications for defense applications.^[7] This computer network evolved into the internet, and by the late 1980s the internet was available in some people's homes.^[7] Over time, the internet moved from a novelty to a major part of daily life. Using the internet, it was no longer necessary to store all data for a project locally, and communications were vastly improved. Following this trend, GIScientists began developing methods for combining the internet and GIS. This process accelerated in the 1990s, with the first major web mapping program capable of distributed map creation appearing in 1993.^[1][7][16] This software, named PARC Map Viewer, was unique in that it facilitated dynamic user map generation, rather than static images.^[16] This software also allowed for users to employ GIS without having it locally installed on their machine.^[4][16] The US federal government made the TIGER Mapping Service available to the public in 1995, which facilitated desktop and Web GIS by hosting US boundary data.^[4] In 1996, MapQuest became available to the public, facilitating navigation and trip planning.^[4]

In 1997, Esri began to focus on their desktop GIS software, which in 2000 became ArcGIS.^[17] This led to Esri dominating the GIS industry for the next several years.^[7] In 2000 Esri launched the Geography Network, which offered some web GIS functions. In 2014, ArcGIS Online replaced this, and offers significant WebGIS functions including hosting, manipulating, and visualizing data in dynamic applications.^[4][5][7]

The World Wide Web is an information system that uses the internet to host, share, and distribute documents, images, and other data.^[18] WebGIS involves using the World Wide Web to facilitate GIS tasks traditionally done on a desktop computer, as well as enabling the sharing of maps and spatial data. Most, but not all, internet GIS is WebGIS.^[4][5]

Geospatial web services are distinct software packages available on the World Wide Web that can be employed to perform a function with spatial data.^[3]

Web feature services allow users to access, edit, and make use of hosted geospatial feature datasets.^[3]

Web processing services allow users to perform GIS calculations on spatial data.^[3] Web processing services standardize inputs, and outputs, for spatial data within an internet GIS and may have standardized algorithms for spatial statistics.

Web mapping involves using distributed tools to create and host both static and dynamic maps.^[1][3][4][5] It is different than desktop digital cartography in that the data, software, or both might not be stored locally and are often distributed across many computers. Web mapping allows for the rapid distribution of spatial visualizations without the need for printing.^[8] They also facilitates rapid updating to reflect new datasets and allow for interactive datasets that would be impossible in print media. Web mapping was employed extensively during the COVID-19 pandemic to visualize the datasets in close to real-time.^[19][20][21]

Cell phones and other wireless communication forms have become common in society.^[1][4][5] Many of these devices are connected to the internet and can access internet GIS applications like any other computer.^[4][5] Unlike traditional computers, however, these devices generate immense amounts of spatial data available to the device user and many governments and private entities.^[4][5] The tools, applications, and hardware used to facilitate GIS through the use of wireless technology is mobile GIS. Used by the holder of the device, mobile GIS enables navigation applications like Google Maps to help the user navigate to a location.^[4][5] When used by private firms, the location data collected can help businesses understand foot traffic in an area to optimize business practices.^[4][5] Governments can use this data to monitor citizens. Access to locational data by third parties has led to privacy concerns.^[4][5]

By their definition, maps can never be perfect and are simplifications of reality. Ethical cartographers try to keep these inaccuracies documented and to a minimum. Internet GIS has brought map-making tools to the general public, facilitating the rapidly disseminating these maps. While this is potentially positive, it also means that people without cartographic training can easily make and disseminate misleading maps to a wide audience.^[8][21][22] Further, malicious actors can quickly spread intentionally misleading spatial information while hiding the source.^[22]