Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are now essential to the work of an incrasingly diverse range of organizations concerned with population characteristics, from local government and health authorities to major retailers and marketing agencies. David Martin presents an accessible introduction to the history, principles and techniques of GIS, with a unique focus on socioeconomic applications. This non-technical overview of the collection, input, storage, manipulation and output of data addresses the needs of students and professionals who must understand and use GIS for the first time. This second edition builds on the strengths of the first. Taking into account recent advances in GIS development and major new socioeconomic datasets (including new census data), it explores more fully the contribution of GIS to geography and their power in influencing our environment.