[Previous entry: "South Beach On San Juan Island"] [Next entry: "County Revenue Estimate: The “Squeeze” is On"]

11/14/2007: "“GIS on the Islands”"

Scared of maps? Need a map folding lesson? The maps nerds can help!
San Juan County’s map nerds announce “GIS on the Islands,” a celebration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day at the County Courthouse from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2007.

Learn how to use Google Earth to find your childhood home or look up information about your property using the Assessor’s Parcel Search. Watch videos to learn more about GIS and talk to GIS users to see how GIS helps them make decisions about our community and environment. Representatives from a variety of organizations will be available to demonstrate how GIS is used for transportation planning, emergency response, land conservation, water and habitat analysis, and noxious weed control.





GIS Day is a global event held each year on the Wednesday of National Geographic Society’s Geography Awareness Week (November 11–17, 2007).

It celebrates the innovative technology that combines data and geography to make put information easy to understanding perspective. “GIS on the Islands” provides an opportunity for those curious about GIS to see its applications in action. GIS is a computer-based tool that takes information about a location from a database and displays it on a map. The ability to combine various geographic and demographic features in a single display gives users a better understanding of a particular location and enables planners, analysts, and others to make informed decisions.

GIS touches nearly everyone’s life daily. It is used throughout the world to solve problems related to the environment, health care, land use, business efficiency, education, and public safety. GIS technology is used to trace 911 calls; to determine how much material is needed for paving roads; and to analyze impacts on sensitive habitats. The application of GIS technology is limited only by the imagination of its users.

Meet the nerds behind the maps at “GIS on the Islands” November 14, 2007 at the San Juan County Courthouse from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.