**3. Energy geographic information system applications**

A geographic information system or GIS consists of a set of applications and programs that manage spatially referenced databases, which can be visualized through the use of maps [28]. It is a powerful and dynamic tool for the analysis of geographical and spatial data, which can also include non-spatial data.

A correctly implemented GIS tool provides comprehensive analysis of an area for any activity that entails a spatial component, meaning that GIS technology has wide application in resource management and can be an important tool in any decision-making task with a spatial element. GIS can thus be found applied to the development of solar atlas, resource location tools, and so on. Some authors have used GIS together with global positioning systems (GPS) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to propose efficient inspection and maintenance of PV plants [29].
