Through automobile navigation systems, emergency vehicle dispatching and cellular phones, more people are using geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS) in their everyday life. Learn more about these technologies in a free public presentation and demonstration given by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Thursday, Sept. 13.
“The Geospatial Revolution: Reshaping the World with Geo-Based Technologies” will be offered at 7 p.m. in the Pinery Room of the Portage County Public Library, 1001 Main Street, Stevens Point. Presented by Keith Rice, a professor in the UW-Stevens Point Department of Geography and Geology, the event is the first of the eight-part College of Letters and Science 2012-2013 Community Lecture Series.
Those in attendance will be able to test drive various GIS and GPS equipment, including a 40-inch, touch-capable GIS workstation, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and after the presentation.
“Modern digital mapping has changed our daily lives through the use of GPS, GIS and location based services (LBS),” says Rice. “This presentation will explore how private business, government and individuals utilize the transformative power of geospatial technology, as well as investigate recent related innovations such as crowd sourcing, geotagging and augmented reality.”
Rice earned his doctorate in geography from the University of Kansas. He teaches several courses in cartography and GIS at UW-Stevens Point and also directs the GIS Center on campus. His research focuses on map animation design and GIS education curriculum.
The Community Lecture Series schedule and previously recorded videos is online.
