GIS apps might sound like something for techies or map nerds, but guess what? You’re probably using it every day without even realizing it! Whether you’re planning a road trip, hunting for that perfect sunny coffee spot, or mapping out your next food adventure, GIS is right there with you.
1. Turn your drive into an adventure
Planning a road trip and want more than just gas stations and traffic signs? The app makemydrivefun.com helps you spice up your route by adding weird and wonderful stops along the way. Think: an abandoned Eurostar train that looks straight out of a zombie movie, a statue of five life-sized turtles or a stairway to heaven in a random field.
This is GIS with personality, turning maps into memorable experiences. For example this eye-catching staircase tower brings a fresh piece of landscape architecture to the Flemish Brabant municipality of Tielt-Winge in Belgium. Floating high above the famous Kabouterbos – fairy tale forest – this steel monument appears somewhat like a caterpillar peering across the fields.
2. Coffee in the sun, exactly when you need it
Let’s face it: sitting in the shade when you wanted the sun is kind of a letdown. This clever app called koffieindezon.nl shows you exactly when and where the sun hits your favorite coffee terrace in the Netherlands, hour by hour. Thanks to GIS and some shadow simulation, you’ll always grab the best spot. ☀️ Or avoid it if you’re more of a shady type. 😉
Beyond picking the perfect coffee spot, shadow and sun forecasting using GIS has plenty of practical uses. Architects and urban planners use it to design buildings and public spaces that maximize natural light or create cool, shaded areas in summer. Event organizers use it to plan outdoor festivals with enough shade at the right times of day. Even gardeners rely on sun path tools to decide where to plant sun-loving veggies or shade-loving herbs. Whether for comfort, energy efficiency, or green thumbs – sun and shadow data helps make smarter spatial decisions.
3. Taste your way around the world
Ever wondered what dish you have to try when you’re in a certain country, region, or even village? TasteAtlas.com combines global culinary knowledge with GIS maps to show what’s cooking and where.
4. The World in Maps: Instagram-worthy and nerd-approved
History, culture, and comedy, all in map form. The Instagram account called the.world.in.maps uses location-based data to make fun, educational, and often weird maps. Want to know where most Popes were born? Or where it’s legal to drink coffee while driving? Or on which date Mother’s Day is celebrated around the world?
Bottomline: GIS is for everyone (yes, you too!)
So, what does this all mean? It means GIS isn’t just for scientists and city planners. It’s also for curious people who want to explore the world in new ways, whether that’s through food, fun facts, sunshine, or spontaneous travel ideas. Also check out our ultimate roadtrip article to learn more about mapping apps.
At GeoWeave, we love showing how location and visual data can enhance daily life. Because honestly? GIS is for everyone.
Next time you use a map app or stumble upon a cool website that knows exactly where you are, take a second to appreciate the magic of GIS behind it. It’s data, it’s maps, it’s fun, and it’s here to make life better.
