The difference between CAD and GIS

Abstract Although there are some similarities between CAD and GIS there are many differences. The most fundamental difference is that GIS models the world as it exists, whereas CAD models artifacts yet to be produced. As a result the data manipulated by a GIS is an order of magnitude larger and more complex than CAD systems have to deal with, and the nature of the data, its sources and its uses, are quite different. This paper compares the two fields in terms of their technology, data, market, user applications and vendor organizations.