The theme for this year's GIS Day is Mapping Minds, Shaping the World so it seemed fitting to share what GIS is with someone close to me. I created a GIS Day event at home for my family so we could have a more involved conversation about how GIS is a passion for many, including myself, and how integrated it truly is into our daily lives. What is GIS is a common enough question when asked ‘What do I do for a living’ but how do I explain it? Usually, I explain it as map-making with data but leave out many details because even though I am excited to talk about it, not everyone is as excited to listen.
Talking about GIS is easy but explaining without overwhelming someone with the GIS lingo can be a challenge and I understand my enthusiasm for all things mapped is probably not to be shared. That said, it was fun to share and discuss how GIS is more than making maps. My girlfriend works for a large insurance company so we talked about ways GIS could relate to her company to help guide the conversation. The work environment is so connected now, with weekly meetings via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other platforms, distances are no longer an issue so I created a map of points showing where some of her co-workers work from around the world. It was a simple easy way to convey how GIS can begin with something fun and personally relatable. It reminded me of the first time I opened ArcGIS Pro, feeling overwhelmed but realizing how much potential GIS has. She and I talked about the world and how small it really is when viewed on maps. I relayed my experiences with making maps, and because we love to travel, how being immersed in GIS helps me view the world differently.
It was fun to share GIS Day and even though it was probably more fun for me, it helped us open up more about our perceptions of how the world is portrayed through simple maps. Another fun part for me was revisiting thoughts and experiences from when I first came across GIS many years ago. GIS Day is a great way to celebrate GIS communities where people enjoy helping others succeed. Communities that are always helpful with learning and encouraging success.
No comments:
Post a Comment