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Every day people use navigation tools to find everything from driving directions to the nearest restaurant on their smartphones. However, the ability to easily link to maps and data digitally is often taken for granted. The tools and services that allow such ease at pinpointing positions and finding surrounding locations use Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Phoenix GISday on Nov. 15. Courtesy of City of Phoenix.
Each year in November, GIS Day is celebrated around the globe. The international event allows the public and members of the GIS community to come together to share and demonstrate real-world applications being used and developed.
The city of Phoenix will co-sponsor a GIS Day event on Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The daylong event will feature a nationally recognized keynote speaker, Kyle Campbell from Google, who will talk about current and upcoming interests Google has involving GIS technologies. Furthermore, experts will address the role GIS is playing in classrooms and in improving public safety.
“The city of Phoenix is excited about its implementation of web based GIS and Opendata. We can now put GIS technology in the hands of not just GIS professionals, but also make it available to all city employees and the public. Putting GIS tools in the hands of more people effectively uses the city’s investment in GIS.” explains Phoenix’s Enterprise GIS Coordinator, Jim Jarvis.
In addition, products and technologies utilizing GIS will be on display. Cooper Aerial Surveys Company will be demonstrating the latest drone (UAV) technologies.
Downtown Phoenix Google Map.
The Phoenix GIS Day event is free and open to the public. The event will be held in downtown Phoenix at the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Auditorium and Phoenix City Hall. The event is free but registration is required. To register or to see a complete schedule of events, visit phoenix.gov and click on the GIS Day graphic.
The first formal GIS Day took place in 1999 and was inspired by Ralph Nader who wanted a grassroots effort to unite the GIS community. GIS Day is now celebrated world-wide with participants from private sector, public sector, academia and grassroots groups. For more information on the international celebration of GIS, visit gisday.com.
If You Go
What: Phoenix GIS Day
When: Tuesday, November 15, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: 200/205 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix 85003
Registration: Event is free, but registration is required. You can register here.
