Carleton University invites the public to the 10th anniversary of GIS Day on Wednesday, November 19, 2008.
Geographic Information Systems technology is used daily around the world to help fight forest fires, predict disease outbreaks and ensure pizza is delivered on time. Finding the best route, locating the closest store, or planning a vacation – these tasks are all made easier with the use of GIS technology. It powers Mapquest, Google Maps and Google Earth, allowing us to explore geographic regions from afar. Developed in Ottawa at Natural Resources Canada, the use of GIS technology is so common that it is now annually celebrated around the globe as part of Geography Awareness Week.
Carleton University’s GIS Day showcase and trade show will include displays, speakers, and interactive demonstrations of GIS technology. The Canadian Space Agency’s Dr. Marie Claude Williamson, program scientist for Planetary Exploration, will be among the fascinating speakers.
Attendees can participate in the following activities:
- Find your house – Bring home an air photo of where you live. Using GIS software, participants will be guided through their neighbourhoods to find their homes from the air.
- Map folding wizard – Can’t fold a map? The geography department’s Steve Prashker can show you how.
- Geocaching – What’s Geocaching? A high-tech GPS treasure hunt game played throughout the world by adventure seekers. The Carleton University Geographic Association has created their own mini-game which includes a GPS unit, clues and an outdoor adventure.
- Where in the world are you from? Pinpoint your birthplace on a paper map. A huge map of Canada will show you where your fellow GIS Day attendees were born.
- Dig a hole through the Earth – If you could drill a hole to the other side of the Earth, where would you end up? Take a guess with the help of a globe or Google maps.
Showcase participants include more than 15 industry, academic, and governmental organizations, like the Carleton University Geomatics and Cartographic Research Centre, ESRI Canada, City of Ottawa, PCI Geomatics, Terralogik, Library and Archives Canada, Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces Mapping and Charting Establishment and Statistics Canada.
GIS Day will be held in Porter Hall, 231 University Centre, Carleton University from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Visit http://www.library.carleton.ca/gis/gisday.html
For more information.
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For more information:
Joël Rivard
Data Technician
Maps, Data & Government Information Centre
Carleton University Library
613-520-2600 ext. 1685
gisday@carleton.ca
Steve Blais
Media Relations Officer
Carleton University
(613) 520-2600 x1391
Friday, November 14, 2008 in Media Advisories
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