UI Library to host annual GIS Day event Wednesday
Technology is advancing, and the further it develops, the more people Global Information Systems (GIS) affects, said Bruce Godfrey, GIS librarian at the University of Idaho.
With so much talk about cell phone tracking, positioning systems and drone technology, more and more people are becoming interested in GIS. Godfrey said the conversation is just in time as GIS Day is observed annually Nov. 19.
Jeff Lonnecker | Courtesy
A view from a “Finwing Penguin” drone owned and operated recreationally by GIS Analyst and Species Modeler Jeff Lonneker. A 3D scene is stitched together using aerial footage from the drone which can then be used to analyze the health of crops, plan roads, find stream channels and more. Lonneker will be at GIS Day at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the UI Commons where he will display his drone and answer questions from the audience.
UI will host its annual GIS Day event Wednesday in the Crest and Clearwater/Whitewater Rooms of the Idaho Commons. The event, which is free to attend, was organized by the UI Library and will include speakers, exhibits and posters relating to GIS technology.
“It’s so pervasive, it’s in our phones and it impacts all of our lives whether we see it or not — whether it’s car navigation or any number of technologies that are out there,” Godfrey said.
He stressed the importance of learning about these technologies, as they are becoming more and more prominent in the everyday lives of humans all over the globe.
The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will include a block of time from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for interactive demonstrations and opportunities to visit with various presenters to discuss the importance of GIS technology. Godfrey said there will be posters, tables, computer screens and presenters giving demonstrations on how the technology is used.
Drones, a hot-button topic in recent years, is among the topics discussed on GIS Day. Godfrey said if Amazon is planning to deliver packages to the doors of Americans with drones, they’re going to need accurate GIS technology to do it.
Brad Ward, vice president of research and development of Advanced Aviation Solutions L LC, has over a decade of experience with unmanned aircraft in the Air Force and will give an introduction to a discussion on drones beginning at 2:30 p.m.
“(Drone technology is) improving all the time, there’s more and more data being collected and more ways to collect those data,” Godfrey said. “There are researchers who are exploring them for agricultural purposes or forestry purposes — any number of other things people can come up with.”
These drones, both industrial and military, will be discussed and displayed at Wednesday’s event. Godfrey said there would be four drones on display, two with more than 6-foot wingspans and two that are hex copter style, similar to those demoed by Amazon.
GIS employers will also be present at the event, Godfrey said.
As companies develop and integrate GIS related technologies into businesses, the need for employees familiar with these technologies grows rapidly.
The event will include a panel discussion on what GIS employers are looking for, opportunities in GIS careers and skills students should acquire if they have an interest in the field.
“To wrap the prepared talks up, there’s a meeting of GIS users from the northern region. There’ll be GIS professionals and surveyors, as well as folks from private companies,” he said.
Godfrey said although professionals in the field will be present, there is something for everyone at the event.
“There’s certainly opportunities on the professional side of things,” he said. “But there’s also a lot of opportunities if you’re just kind of curious about these technologies and don’t have a lot of knowledge about them — we welcome the novice up to the professional.”
Karter Krasselt can be reached at [email protected]