The University of Kansas Libraries

KU to host symposium on GIS and mapping

LAWRENCE — On November 19th, the University of Kansas will host the 7th Annual GIS Day @ KU, part of an international celebration of technological innovation in geographic information systems, or GIS.
This day-long symposium will be held on the 5th Floor of the Kansas Union, and is free and open to the public. GIS Day @ KU will include exciting talks, an information and job fair, and a student presentation competition. Last year around 300 people attended from academia, the private sector and government.
 
GIS includes a suite of computer technologies that have grown in use and importance over the last two decades. Imagine the strengths of Google Earth, GPS, and science packed into one powerful analytical tool. GIS can be said to combine the visual appeal and utility of a map with the power of information (i.e. a database). Add the Internet to the mix and you have a vast and increasing array of uses.

GIS Day @ KU will include presentations by GIS experts from around the United States, including two winners of the Sol Katz Award, which recognizes leadership in the community of free and open source geospatial software. Two other speakers are leaders in the fields of water resources and environmental modeling. The ever-popular student presentation competition will be held again, and will include topics from a variety of disciplines. Not all of the talks will be technical.

KU Libraries is pleased to help sponsor GIS Day @ KU. Other key sponsors include are the Department of Geography, Kansas Data Access and Support Center, Institute for Policy and Social Research, Transportation Research Institute, and Wilson & Company (formerly Western Air Maps).

KU Libraries supports GIS and data-related research for KU students, staff and faculty through the Scholar Services unit. The unit provides assistance finding and working with geospatial data, as well as workshops and other instructional resources.

“We are thrilled to increase awareness of the in-depth GIS support available to our campus through GIS Day. We hope to highlight the varied and fascinating uses of this tool across campus and around the world, and provide a forum for all scholars to discuss and discover the possibilities of GIS, as related to their coursework, research and teaching,” said Rhonda Houser, GIS specialist for KU Libraries.

Those interested may attend any part or all of the symposium. For a detailed schedule and to register for GIS Day @ KU, visit: www.gis.ku.edu.