Geographical Information Systems involve mapping and data, combined with a piece of software.
We can think of a geographic information system (GIS) as an advanced and interactive map. It is a tool which allows us to organise and visualise data in new and highly practical ways. It allows us to place layer upon layer of data over a basemap made up of real-world localities. It enables us to calculate and even predict the intricate phenomena that make up our world and make intelligent decisions based on very complex data.
Many industries have benefited in some way from GIS, and its ability to unravel global and social issues is increasingly being recognised. In short, it is overwhelmingly likely that your students will come into contact with some kind of GIS during their lifetime and thus an early familiarisation with it is fast becoming essential.
From the GA's
GIS STARTS HERE resource by Fred Martin
I'm aware that some readers of the blog may not have heard of the resources that
I wrote for the GA website last year, and which have been available since October 2010.
You can find them in the
GIS: Getting it Sorted area of the website.
This has details of a range of GIS software and also an introduction into why it should form part of your curriculum planning....
I am going to be doing some GIS training myself later in the week... more on that to come later....
I shall also be continuing with the ESRI / GA CPD events that took place in 2010-11 through into 2012. Full details on those events to come as we organise them and put them on the GA schedule...
