Geoprocessing can be defined as a set of technologies for collecting and processing of spatial information for a specific objective. Thus the activities that involves geoprocessing are executed by specific systems for each application. These systems are normally called Geographic Information System (GIS).
A geoprocessing system is intended to process geographic referenced data (or georeferenced), from its collection until output generation of conventional maps, reports, digital files, etc; providing resources to storage, managing, handling and analysis.
With technology evolution of geoprocessing and chart softwares many terms appeared to several specialties. The (Geographic Information System - GIS) is very utilized and in many cases confused with geoprocessing. Geoprocessing is a more comprehensive concept and represents any type of georeferenced data processing, while a GIS processes graphic and non graphic data (alpha numeric) with emphasis in spatial analysis and surface modeling.
The term GIS is applied to systems that execute the computational handling of geographic data. Due to its wide range of applications, including agriculture, forest, cartography, urbam study, etc, there are at least three main use of GIS:
Map generation
Support to spatial analysis of phenomena
Geographic database with storage functions and spatial information recovery.
GIS components interact in a hierarchical way. The man-machine interface defines how the system is operated and controlled. In an intermediate level a GIS must have spatial data processing mechanisms (input, edition, analysis, visualization, and output). Internal to the system, a geographic database stores and retrieves spatial data. Every system, as a function of its objectives and needs, implements these components in a distinctive way. However, all the subsystems mentioned are present in a GIS.
Source: (SPRING 5.3, 2012).
Space and spatial relations concepts
What is special in spatial data? From this question we can look for particularities in geographic data.
The most fundamental aspect of processed data in a GIS is the dual nature of the information: a geographic data has a geographic location (expressed by map coordinates) and descriptive attributes (that can be represented in a conventional database). Other very important aspect is that geographic data do not exist alone in the space: as important as locate them is to discover and represent the relations among several data.