PMC staff provides analytical mapping capabilities to many jurisdictions and governmental agencies. The resource and planning issues faced by these entities are often interdependent and affect various aspects of localities in different ways. The use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) allows for information to be gathered on a parcel or neighborhood basis and then analyzed across a locality as a whole. PMC has the ability to integrate data sets from numerous and varied sources and incorporate them into a GIS with a single, consistent frame of reference. By maintaining the database in this manner, information from various sources may be overlaid and analyzed without adjusting for different map projections, scales, and resolution.

A well-designed GIS provides an invaluable planning tool for analyzing various social, environmental, and planning issues. Examples of data utilized by PMC include census information, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood hazards, vegetation and habitat, hydrology, infrastructure, soil types, parcel boundaries, zoning, and general plan land use designations. In a GIS, this data may be overlaid on image data such as Digital Raster Graphics (DRGs), Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQs), and aerial photos. In addition to its analytical use, the data developed in a GIS may be used to create maps and graphics that readily enable the public to understand complex land use concepts and alternatives. This analysis tool supports PMC's other service areas, particularly the preparation of general plans and environmental impact reports, when there is a need to demonstrate clear and accurate graphic and technical information.

PMC currently utilizes ESRI’s ArcGIS software suite and AutoCAD to create and display GIS data. CorelDRAW, Corel PHOTO-PAINT, ADOBE Illustrator, ADOBE Photoshop, ADOBE Acrobat, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint may be used in the construction of data sets and figures.