(QDT) the time spent working with a GIS when no specific product is being created, but technique, skills, knowledge, and general acceptance of the GIS are increased —note since many GISs have numerous components, such as data entry, data conversion, data cleaning, data management, data analysis, and data output, and there are many variations of each component, QDT; allows procedures to be developed for each variation desired This definition last updated 08/04/2008