What type of data does Geographic Information Systems (GIS) primarily deal with?

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) primarily deals with spatially referenced data, which includes the geographical locations of various features and phenomena. This type of data allows users to visualize, analyze, and interpret information related to locations on the Earth's surface. Spatially referenced data can encompass a variety of formats, including maps and layers that combine different types of information, such as terrain, demographics, land use, transportation networks, and more.

By focusing on spatial relationships and the context of data in relation to different locations, GIS facilitates a deeper understanding of patterns and trends in geographic phenomena. This is critical for applications in urban planning, environmental monitoring, resource management, and many other fields where location plays an essential role.

In contrast, structured text data, images and sounds, or only numeric data do not encompass the spatial aspect that is fundamental to GIS. While these types of data can be integrated into GIS, they do not represent the primary focus or unique capability of the system, which is centered on spatial relationships and the analysis of geographic contexts.