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- GIS Day News on the Geography Matters Blog
- Visit the Geography Matters Blog to read GIS Day-related posts. You can even subscribe to the GIS Day RSS feed and be instantly notified of posts.
- GIS Day 2007 Events Featured
- Events held at Bowyer-Singleton & Associates, Orlando, Florida; St. Helena Island GIS Office in the South Atlantic Ocean; and Oregon State University (OSU) and the OSU Valley Library, Corvallis, Oregon, were recently featured in ESRI's ArcNews magazine. Read the article.
- GIS Day Participant Wins Award
- Avid GIS Day participant Indiana University (IU) was honored with a Special Achievement in GIS Award for innovative use of GIS technology during the 2007 ESRI International User Conference, June 18-22, in San Diego, California.
The University Information Technology Services at Indiana University plays an important role in Indiana GIS, most notably in providing the university community, GIS professionals, and the general public with online access to terabytes of data via the Indiana Spatial Data Service and the Indiana Spatial Data Portal. The Web application gives businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and the public statewide imagery for their specific needs. About the award.
Visit the IU GIS Day Web site for more information about their successful GIS Day events. Congratulations!
- Boys & Girls Club Valley of the Moon Celebrates GIS Day
- Boys & Girls Club Valley of the Moon is partnering with the USDA Forest Service - Pacific Southwest Region to spread awareness about the substantial contributions GIS technology is making in their community. Attendees will be able to contribute to the map gallery, talk with GIS professionals about their projects, and participate in many GIS activities. The day will also highlight U.S. Forest Service programs: outdoor recreation, parks, and conservation. Learn more.
- Bring Back Geography!
- Jerome E. Dobson's article in ArcNews is a must read for anyone asking, "What is geography?" and, "Why do we need to bring it back?" In the article, Dobson, geography professor and president of the American Geographical Society, discusses the discovery, purging, and importance of geography and gives examples of what people can do to help restore geography to government, business, and education at all levels. Read the article.
- Teach Students about Africa Using GIS
- National Geographic's MapMachine and ESRI's Geography Network will help hone students' skills in geography and geospatial analysis. The MapMachine, powered by ESRI technology, allows anyone to explore the earth through the creation of customizable maps at any scale. One lesson involves using MapMachine to study where snow falls in Africa. Africa is the 2006-2007 theme focus for Geography Action! and GIS Day. Read more.
- Alicia Tapia Our Latest GIS Day Hero
- What's the best way to celebrate GIS Day, learn about geography, and see the world? City of Carson employee, Alicia Tapia, brainstormed a way to do these things and more, by developing a fun interactive GIS Day display called Traveling the World with the City of Carson. With one simple request, "send me a postcard" given to her colleagues before heading off on their next vacation destinations, Tapia was able to build a postcard collection taking visitors on a whirlwind tour of the world. Not only will her display be featured at the 2007 ESRI International User Conference this June, but Tapia and her colleagues are planning to continue the tradition during their GIS Day 2007 activities. Read the article and see pictures of their display.
- First 2007 GIS Day Proclamation Received
- Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry proclaims March 14 as GIS Day in the State of Oklahoma [see the proclamation]. A special GIS Day event will be held the same day in the State Capitol Building. Although Oklahoma has been celebrating GIS Day for the past 13 years, this year's event will be especially important as it commemorates Oklahoma's 100th birthday/years of statehood. Event activities and demonstrations will focus on how mapping has changed in Oklahoma over the last 100 years.
Commenting on the scope of the event and what it means to Oklahoma's GIS community, coordinator Shellie Willoughby explained, "Better GIS technology enables better decision making which leads to a better future for Oklahoma. With over 100 GIS professional from 30 local, state, and federal agencies, GIS Day at the Capitol allows our legislators and their constituents the unique opportunity to visit with these professionals as they showcase their accomplishments and the latest technology in the field of GIS. GIS Day at the Capitol provides an opportunity for those curious about GIS to see its applications in action."
Find out more about this year's event or past Oklahoma GIS Day at the Capitol events.
- Spotlight on Dietrich Knauner—A GIS Day Hero
- Inspired by a Penn State University open house he attended earlier in the year, high school senior Dietrich Knauner not only decided that he wanted to major in Geography/GIS in college, he also decided to plan a GIS Day 2006 event for his school to help make other students aware of the amazing technology he had discovered. Read more about this inspiring student.
- Eureka Springs EAST Students Present School Evacuation Plan to EMS
- The EAST Lab is a high school class that encourages students to use high-end technologies to solve community problems. Using old high school blueprints and current building measurements, the students replicated the high school's buildings, classrooms, gym, offices, gardens and parking lots. The project's goal is to assist EMS personnel in efficiently and safely evacuating the high school during an emergency. Read more about this interesting project.
- New Zealand Students Use GIS Day Project to Develop School Travel Plan
- Just after making the decision to participate in GIS Day, Sally Brodie, geography teacher and head of Humanities at the Diocesan School for Girls in Auckland, New Zealand, took the next step in her GIS Day planning process—the step that can take an average GIS Day event and turn it into something that can affect an entire community. Read more about this interesting project.
- Coming Soon: GIS Day/Youth Mapping Patch and Pin
- More than 10,000 GIS Day/Youth Mapping patches and 4,000 GIS Day/Youth Mapping bronze pins will be available starting next month to promote to GIS Day participants and events. These patches and pins will be available soon in the GIS Day Gear store at www.gisday.com/gear.
- New World Map Floor Puzzle Now Available
- "Puzzle" your GIS Day audience with this large-format World Map floor puzzle. Simply plot it, laminate it, and cut it out to create a 34 x 22 inch floor puzzle to use at your next GIS Day event. Perfect for grades K-5.
- New Introduction Video Now Available
- A new video is now available for your GIS Day events. Jack Dangermond, president of ESRI, speaks in this 3.5-minute video about the importance of GIS and the role of GIS Day in educating the public about this valuable technology.
- Worldwide Events Planned
- From Albania to Zimbabwe, from Iceland to balmy Hawaii, from the top of the world (Nepal) to "the land down under" (Australia), on 6 of the 7 continents and many island countries in between, events are registered in 85 countries and all 50 states. Here are just some of them.
- Beirut, Lebanon will focus on "GIS in Humanitarian Services." Details
- Cape Town, South Africa plans 2 days of exhibits. Details
- The Town of Mashpee, Massachusetts plans 3 events: a map gallery at town hall, a lecture and workshop at the high school, and a demo at the senior center.
- National Library of Estonia has big plans for adults and schoolchildren. Details
- Limbe Botanic Garden in Limbe, Cameroon plans a full program about natural resource management. Details
- Indian and Northern Affairs Canada in Yellowknife plans an Open House. Details
- University of Alaska Anchorage will host a full day of mapping workshops, GPS and Mobile GIS field activities, posters, CAD/GIS presentations, surveying equipment demos, and lab tours. Details
- Lexington, Kentucky high school students and teachers will receive GIS presentations. Details
- Nepal GIS Society (NEGISS) in Kathmandu, Nepal will host an all-day open house with map gallery. Details
- Regional Center for Training in Aerospace Surveys in Ile-Ife, Nigeria will host an Open House. Details
- Tatrzanski Park Narodowy in Zakopane, Poland will host a workshop with GIS demonstrations. Details
- King Edward VI Five Ways School in Birmingham, United Kingdom will host a workshop for teachers and student teachers. Details
- Izmir Institute of Technology, School of Architecture in Turkey will hold a map gallery and demonstrations. Details
- UPV Tacloban College in The Philippines will host a 2-day conference, open house, and map gallery. Details
- GIS India will host a 2-day conference in Hyderabad. Details
- Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden in Hong Kong plans an all-day workshop. Details
- Dalian, China will host GIS demonstrations. Details
- Tres Coracoes, Brazil will host a Map Gallery. Details
- Antananarivo, Madagascar will host an Open House. Details
- All sixth grade students in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee will learn about GIS and careers in GIS. Details
- University of Ottawa, Canada will have multiple educational exhibits, special lessons for high school students, and guest speakers on GIS in our every day life. Details
- Chandler, Arizona will host an Open House where several booths will show residents and students how GIS is used by the City, Fire and Police Departments, and how residents can view the City's GIS data. Details
- The city of Salem, Oregon will host "GIS Day at the Capital," an Open House with a map gallery and demonstrations. Details
- The Universidad del Cauca, Departamento de Geografía in Colombia will host conferences and a workshop about the new Colombian georeference system and its GIS implementation. A map gallery of enterprise products and projects. Details
- Students and teachers in Dortmund, Germany will be introduced to GI Science by University students presenting their GIS projects. A GPS demonstration will also be held. Details
- Midlands State University will host an open house in Gweru, Zimbabwe; presentations will highlight current GIS projects in the area. Details
- My Wonderful World
My Wonderful World is kicking off a multiyear, around-the-world program to engage everyone in learning about the diversity of our planet's people, places, and natural wonders. Their first stop is Africa. Visit the My Wonderful World Web site to check out the Africa-related games, interactive features, maps, music, news, photos, and lesson plan resources for educators, parents, and kids alike. Get started—and see what wonders you can discover to incorporate into your GIS Day events.- Online Mapping Sites for Your GIS Day Event
- Check out these online mapping sites. They are easy to use and provide basic topics such as street maps, aerial photos, and other reference maps. They may be just what you are looking for to show at your GIS Day event.
- Careers in GIS
- Planning a GIS Day Career Day as your next GIS Day event? Organizations in all disciplines need professionals skilled in integrating GIS with their core business. Tools and information at GIS Career Pathways can be used to plan and present a GIS Day Career Day.
- New Materials Now Available
- New materials are now available to help you promote and host your GIS Day event.
- New name badges will help your guests to break the ice and foster communication. You can also use them to label the guests' materials packets.
- New business cards will help you communicate with potential guests, speakers, presenters, sponsors, and officials about GIS Day. The cards will not only provide them with your contact information but symbolize the credibility of your event. They are excellent additions to mailings or press kits.
- New flyers and posters provide real-world examples of how GIS is used everyday. They will encourage your guests to think about the many other ways GIS can be used. You can use them as advertisements or at the event itself.
- KidzOnline Interview on GIS Careers
- View an interview on Nortel Networks' Kidz Online with ESRI president and founder, Jack Dangermond. [Duration: 10:45] Nortel Networks Kidz Online is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to preparing students and teachers to live and work with the new technologies that pervade their lives. This is accomplished through innovative "kidz teaching kids" training, which is distributed using advanced digital technologies. Nortel Networks, the signature sponsor for Kidz Online, is an industry leader and innovator focused on transforming how the world communicates and exchanges information. For more information, see www.kidzonline.org.
- Career Launch Pad
- Interested in how geospatial technology will factor into your future? Check out the Career Launch Pad on the Geospatial 21 Web site. The Career Launch Pad provides a collection of career interviews with engaging professionals from all levels of the geospatial industry, from innovators and industry leaders to researchers and professors. Notable interviews include NGA head General Clapper, ESRI founder/president Jack Dangermond, and MapQuest Senior VP/GM Tommy McGloin. You can view interviews with a planetary GIS specialist, a conservationist, a map historian, a software programmer, a remote sensing specialist, and more. Use these videos to help you plan your GIS Day events and activities, to enhance a Career Day presentation, or simply to investigate options for your future.
- National Geographic Society Campaign to Increase Geographic Knowledge
- A new program from the National Geographic Society will offer today's youth a valuable resource to increase their geographic knowledge and embrace the world around them. My Wonderful World will promote geographic awareness to K-12 students and provide tools to help teachers and parents be involved in the learning process. The program's Web site will launch May 2, 2006. Read more.
- Jane Goodall Special Edition DVD
- Dr. Jane Goodall's inspiring keynote address presented at the 2005 ESRI International User Conference has been captured on DVD. A limited number are available for purchase; all proceeds directly benefit the Jane Goodall Institute. Order your copy.