The document discusses geographic information systems (GIS) and their use in capturing, storing, manipulating, analyzing, managing, and presenting spatial or geographic data. It provides examples of how GIS is used for mapping, including creating topographic maps, and explains some of the applications of GIS technology like integrating geo-referenced data and identifying relationships in that data. The document also gives details about using GIS for surveying, including mapping features like horizontal and vertical curves used in civil engineering projects.