October 31, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol Schuldt, Robert E. Kennedy Library
805-756-2380, cschuldt@calpoly.edu
GIS Day 2008 at Cal Poly Slated for Nov. 20
SAN LUIS OBISPO - Robert E. Kennedy Library and the SLO GIS Users Group will host "GIS Day 2008 at Cal Poly" from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20.
Held annually worldwide, GIS Day celebrates geographic information systems (GIS) technology and its many uses. GIS systems are computer-based mapping tools that convert location data - such as streets, buildings or terrain - into visual map layers. Smart maps can be created that permit a better understanding of a particular location, enabling professionals in many fields to make informed decisions and convey information visually.
"The base data might be in the form of aerial photos, lines indicating roads or streams, points that indicate individual cases of a disease, or spreadsheets with demographic information - the possibilities are endless," said Carol Schuldt, Kennedy Library's GIS resources coordinator. "A GIS user can combine such data and create a map that shows relationships that were hidden or difficult to visualize before. It's truly an amazing new technology that can be applied to almost any field."
GIS Day at Cal Poly is free and open to the public. It will be an opportunity for students, faculty, industry, and the community to make connections and learn about GIS. The event will feature exhibits, networking opportunities for students and employers, presentations on local uses for GIS technology, as well as a map gallery showcasing maps created by campus users, San Luis Obispo City and County agencies and other local GIS users.
For more information, contact Schuldt at 805-756-2380 or cschuldt@calpoly.edu.
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