Burlington County College and the Mid-Atlantic Geospatial Transportation Users Group is set to present hands-on activities and presentations in honor of GIS Day, an international event celebrating the value and importance of geospatial technology, on Thursday, Nov. 13 at the college’s Mount Laurel campus.
“GIS technology is critically important to our county’s ability to plan community improvements, manage emergencies and help improve our daily quality of life,” said Burlington County freeholder director Bruce Garganio.
The annual event demonstrates how Geographic Information System technology is used in today’s world to help solve problems and influence decision-makers.
“Technology-driven data informs nearly every decision we make and this event gives us an opportunity to take a look at how that technology is integrated in our lives,” BCC interim president Dr. David Spang said.
GIS Day will kick off with a morning of speaker presentations highlighting GIS applications across various industries. The afternoon will include the MAGTUG fall meeting, a hands-on GPS exercise using professional equipment and GIS exercises using professional software. Participants are encouraged to vote for their favorite maps in the Map Gallery, where maps produced by county departments, municipalities, nonprofits and private sector companies will be displayed. There will also be opportunities to learn about BCC’s Geospatial Technology program.
“From planning a road trip to helping meteorologists forecast weather patterns, this technology affects our everyday lives, although many may be unaware of the science behind the technology,” said Marc Zamkotowicz, BCC Science, Math and Technology assistant professor. “Both GIS, and the global positioning system, better known as GPS, help us think and plan geographically, which helps us better understand the world around us.”
GIS Day activities include:
• 9 a.m. to noon. Speaker presentations.
• Noon to 1 p.m. Lunch.
• 1–2:15 p.m. GPS outdoor field activity.
• 1:30–4:30 p.m. Fall MAGTUG meeting.
• 2:30–4:30 p.m. Hands-on, self-paced GIS lab exercises.
The day’s activities are free and open to the public. Events are set to be held in Laurel Hall, room 320, and TEC, room 208. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. For more information and to register, go online to co.burlington.nj.us/gisdayatbcc.
Organizations that use GIS are invited to display maps in the Map Gallery. Map submission deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 12. For more information or to display a map in the Gallery, contact Merrilee Torres at (609) 702-7067 or mtorres@co.burlington.nj.us. BCC Mount Laurel campus is located between Hartford and Briggs roads on Rte. 38 West.
