What does the term 'buffer' in GIS refer to?

The term 'buffer' in GIS refers to a zone around a feature used to analyze proximity. This concept is fundamental in geographic information systems as it allows for the spatial analysis of features in relation to one another. When a buffer is applied to a geographic feature, it creates a region around that feature, typically at a specified distance. This region can then be used to determine what other features fall within this area, enabling analyses such as assessing environmental impacts, planning for development, or identifying areas that fall within specific distances for resource management.

Buffering is particularly useful in tasks like determining the impact of a new construction project on nearby ecosystems or determining the areas that would be affected by a road expansion. The flexibility of defining different distances for buffering allows GIS professionals to tailor their analyses to suit the needs of specific projects or studies, making it a powerful tool in spatial analysis.