Indiana University celebrates GIS Day on November 14

  • Nov. 8, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 8, 2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University will mark the 14th anniversary of GIS Day@#8212;the worldwide, annual celebration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology and its applications@#8212;on Wednesday, November 14. The event will take place in the Herman B Wells Library at IU Bloomington.

  • GIS Day graphic

GIS supports a geographic approach to problem solving, connecting people with the intelligent digital maps they need to work more efficiently and make better decisions. From Google Maps to systems that monitor the spread of disease, GIS technologies help people innovate, take action and make a measureable difference.

IU's celebration will focus on how these technologies shape the way Hoosiers live, learn and do business. Representatives from the Indiana Geological Survey (IGS), Indiana Geographic Information Council, US Geological Survey and IU Libraries will talk to visitors about topics such as environmental, library science and mapping applications. They will also host a variety of activities, including:

IndianaMAP demonstration using a 55-inch touch table display Information session on accessing Indiana's historic topographic maps collection Display of Indiana's historic Sanborn fire insurance maps Real-time global network monitoring and visualization with GlobalNOC Worldview Quake Cottage earthquake simulator (weather permitting)

The day will conclude with the keynote by Dr. John Steinmetz, the State Geologist of Indiana and director of the Indiana Geological Survey. His presentation,

"LiDAR for smarties: All you need to know so you won't have to ask," will take place at 4pm in the Herman B Wells Library Conference Room E174.

IU's GIS Day will also include a geocaching challenge hosted by the Indiana University Geocaching Club. The winner will receive a $50 VISA gift card provided by 39 Degrees North.

To learn more about GIS Day, visit .

About GIS

GIS is a multibillion-dollar industry employing hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. GIS converts the rows and columns in databases and spreadsheets to maps displaying locations for new businesses, routes for emergency responders, and geological features for locating minerals, oil, or gas. GIS technologies provide value to organizations of all sizes and users in almost every industry by supporting better decision-making, improved communication, and greater efficiency.

About GIS at Indiana University

Indiana University staff provides support for GIS technologies on all Indiana University campuses, and contributes to state efforts in building a single map for Indiana. Indiana University's advanced computing and networking infrastructure serves as the foundation for state-of-the-art GIS instructional facilities. The Indiana University GIS community has access to enterprise GIS services, geospatial data libraries, and professional software to support academic and research excellence in diverse fields.