The most effective use of GIS analysis to increase the number of customers that shop at a store would be to identify the addresses of all the residences within five miles of the store so coupons can be sent to them. This application allows businesses to target marketing efforts directly to potential customers who live in proximity to the store, enhancing the likelihood of attracting them through promotions.
In contrast, while capturing images of the terrain can help identify physical barriers and tracking customer routes can be useful for understanding traffic patterns, these methods are more indirect in terms of boosting customer numbers compared to targeted marketing through direct outreach. Moreover, the statement about GIS not being useful is inaccurate, as GIS is a powerful tool for spatial analysis in such marketing strategies.