This issue brief illustrates several possible applications of geographic information systems (GIS) in mine action. By producing visual, quantifiable results, GIS tools can help country programme managers, regional office managers, operations managers, operations officers and IMSMA officers make improved decisions. By integrating data from various sources and domains, GIS opens demining processes (eg prioritisation and tasking, demining capacity assessment, operational planning etc) to a wide range of relevant geospatial factors. With these models, transportation network connectivity, soil characteristics, vegetation, slope and other factors that have significant influence on demining activities are better taken into account. More generally, a wide range of environmental, socio-economic and cultural specificities of mine-affected regions can be integrated, significantly improving the evidence and understanding on which managers can base their decisions. This issue brief is illustrated with concrete examples of cases of GIS tools being used in mine action and in other fields.