The ISU GIS Support and Research Facility and IowaView along with Parks Library will be hosting GIS Day 2024 on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in The Catalyst at Parks Library (Room 199) at Iowa State University. This is a come-and-go event so stay as long as you would like. GIS Day is for everyone, from the GIS curious to the GIS user. There will be speakers throughout the morning sharing their research from around campus, information about GIS opportunities and programs on campus, free GIS swag, free food, and a map competition with prizes.
The Iowa Geographic Map Server is a gem of historical and contemporary statewide aerial imagery for Iowa from the 1930s to 2021. It also has many other statewide layers including:
elevation maps (LiDAR and USGS topographic maps),
historical maps (General Land Office survey maps from 1800s, Andreas Atlas, historic topography),
land cover maps (historical and contemporary)
geology (landforms and bedrock)
Here’s your challenge: Zoom into your city or a place of significance to you and discover how it has changed over the years, look at how the land cover changed, challenge yourself to find as many changes as you can.
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a publicly created and maintained map of the world – the Wikipedia for maps. Anyone with access to an internet browser can view the map and can sign up for a free OpenStreetMap account to edit and update the map. Edits to the map are reviewed and validated by other members of the community. If you are new to OpenStreetMap, visit their welcome page to a short introduction: https://osmgeoweek.org/guides/intro.
Here are several ways to get engaged with OpenStreetMap:
~ Review your local OSM basemap for accuracy and consider adding community features that are missing or need updating.
~ Spend time working on a Humanitarian OpenStreetMap project. For a current list of priority project visit: https://tasks.hotosm.org/explore
~ Only have a little bit of time? Consider MapRoulette, the game of mini mapping challenges, it breaks OSM work into snack-sized “challenges.” Earn points by fixing validation issues, turning nodes into areas, adding missing tags, and through countless other little tasks that contribute to a healthier map.
It’s that time of year again! We are celebrating Geography Awareness Week! November 13-17, 2023
The History of Geography Awareness Week:
Thirty-six years ago, the National Geographic Society advocated to create Geography Awareness Week. Geography Awareness Week is a way to celebrate and raise awareness of geography, both as a discipline and as a part of daily life. The National Geographic Society felt the limited exposure to geography in American education was a dangerous deficiency. Without proper exposure to geography, students are unable to make effective decisions, understand geo-spatial and geo-political issues, or even recognize their impacts as global citizens. — see more at the National Geographic Website
GIS Day is around the corner…please join us for festivities in the Parks Library in Ames, Iowa on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. For GIS Day details: https://www.gis.iastate.edu/gis-day-2023. Also if you have a StoryMap or GIS app or GIS poster or regular paper map – please enter the mapping competition. The competition is open to all, i.e. anyone else reading this, we want to see your mapping skills. There will be prizes! https://tinyurl.com/mappingmasterminds
Today is GIS Day! We are celebrating in the North atrium of the College of Design. Today is an especially exciting celebration as we are also celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ISU GIS Facility on campus and 50 years of the US Landsat, earth observing satellite mission. Please join us in the College of Design from 11:30am to 2:00 pm. We will have several activities, puzzles, refreshments, educational giveaways, and door prizes.
This week we are celebrating Geography Awareness Week!
The History of Geography Awareness Week:
Thirty-five years ago, the National Geographic Society advocated to create Geography Awareness Week. Geography Awareness Week is a way to celebrate and raise awareness of geography, both as a discipline and as a part of daily life. The National Geographic Society felt the limited exposure to geography in American education was a dangerous deficiency. Without proper exposure to geography, students are unable to make effective decisions, understand geo-spatial and geo-political issues, or even recognize their impacts as global citizens. — see more at the National Geographic Website
Wednesday, November 16, 2022 – 1 pm (Central) – Live GIS Day Facebook Live Event with Joseph Kerski Join geographer, educator, and GIS professional Joseph Kerski to (1) Celebrate the users of GIS, (2) Explore why maps and geotechnologies are relevant to 21st Century problem-solving, and (3) Discover how you can make your own maps and pursue your own learning! https://fb.me/e/3PtnqfMUz
Thursday, November 17, 2022 – 1 pm (Central) – The Art and Science of Sustainability presented by E Wen Wong – Learn how National Geographic Explorer E Wen Wong’s organization relies on both art and science to illustrate how we are impacting the environment and to inspire positive environmental change. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/tickets/explorer-classroom/event/ArtandScienceofSustainability2/
There will be prizes! 
