GIS

GIS - Geographical Information Systems
The Visual Leap is interested in GIS because it is a technology based visual tool of inquiry. (That, and the fact that we love maps.)

What is GIS
A Geographic Information System (GIS) uses computers and software to organize, develop and communicate geographic knowledge. In simple terms, GIS takes the numbers and words from the rows and columns in databases and spreadsheets and puts them on a map.

GIS is an emerging technology that is critical in our world today. GIS is a mapping software that allows one to query data and represent it graphically in maps. GIS is currently used by police departments, fire departments, the US Geological Society, cities, municipalities and universities. It may be one of the most significant emerging technology based industries. One of the most important parts about GIS is that it allows users to compare different kinds of data to uncover surprising connections and relationships.

GIS allows users to create geographic maps that reflect pretty much any set of data. Census data, ecology, temperature, crime data and more. Just about anything that anyone has cataloged in a data table can be imported and analyzed using GIS. For example, police departments use it to analyze, predict and solve crime. Social scientists use GIS to understand migrations of immigrants and how this relates to other factors.

Here is an interactive online map powered by ESRI
media type="custom" key="5263651"

What is Geographic Inquiry

 * ===The Geographic Inquiry Process=== ||
 * STEP || What to do ||
 * 1. Ask a Geographic Question || Ask a question about spatial relationships in the world around you. ||
 * 2. Acquire geographic resources || Identify data and information that you need to answer your question. ||
 * 3. Explore geographic data || Turn the date into maps, tables, and graphs, and look for patterns and relationships. ||
 * 4. Analyze geographic information || Determine what the patterns and relationships mean with respect to your question. ||
 * 5. Act on geographic knowledge || Use the results of your work to educate, make a decision, or solve a problem. ||

Our most up to date GIS resources are on our Delicious.com page. @http://delicious.com/visualleap
FREE GIS Software - ArcExplorer Java Edition for Education (AEJEE) @http://www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer/download-education.html ESRI GIS Education Community http://edcommunity.esri.com/ ESRI GIS Lesson: Analyze the Last Seven Days of Earthquake Data: @http://edcommunity.esri.com/arclessons/lesson.cfm?id=477 ESRI Resources for Education @http://www.esri.com/ourworldgiseducation ESRI Blogs, Lessons, Ideas @http://blogs.esri.com/Info/blogs/gisedcom/archive/tags/AEJEE/default.aspx ESRI International User Conference @http://www.esri.com/events/user-conference/index.html Penn State U - PA Data Access Wizard @http://www.pasda.psu.edu/uci/SearchPage.aspx Philadelphia Police Crime Analysis and Mapping Unit @http://www.ppdonline.org/ops/ops_tech_gis.php Census Data for Educational Uses @http://www.census.gov/schools/ GIS Lesson @http://www.gis2gps.com/GIS/lessons/lessons.html GIS Lessons @http://edcommunity.esri.com/arclessons/arclessons.cfm GIS Lessons @http://gislounge.com/k-12-education-in-gis/

USGS GIS Data on Earthquakes
USGS Earthquake Page: @http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ USGS Google Earth KMZ file: @http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/catalogs/eqs7day-age.kmz USGS Latest US Earthquakes Page: @http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/ USGS Earthquakes Hazards Program: @http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/qed/ USGS Earthquake Feeds and Data: @http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/catalogs/ USGS Google Earth KMZ file repository: h@ttp://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kml.php

My first GIS map
This is my first GIS map. I created it using the ArcView AEJEE GIS Client. This is a free, cross platform GIS Client, designed for education.