Geographic Information Systems Show New Ways to See the World

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Libraries, the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies and the student chapter of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing will celebrate Geographic Information Systems Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in Mullins Library.

Geographic Information Systems technology transforms how people view information by linking the geography or location of a place with multiple layers of descriptive data. Working with superimposed data brings a new perspective to researchers working in fields as varied as marketing, health and emergency services, agriculture, archaeology, environmental science, energy and sustainability. People can gain fresh perspectives by working with maps and data provided through a geographic information system.

Geographic Information Systems Day is an international event that promotes the importance of geography in research, education and decision-making. The event will feature presentations and demonstrations by GIS specialists that illustrate real-world applications of GIS technology. The event is free and open to the public.

Presentations feature representatives from the U.S. Geological Survey, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Geographic Information Office, Benton County GIS Department, city of Fayetteville, Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, University Libraries and the U of A student chapter of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Topics include introduction to GIS, mobile GIS apps, creating Google Maps, landscape epidemiology and the West Nile virus, GIS for the dispatch of emergency services, land cover mapping and Arkansas’ official GIS platform, GeoStor.