GIS is used in numerous fields ranging from health care to crime, to the environment. It provides tools that are used to evaluate systems in a holistic way rather than focusing on only one aspect of an area such as the geology, biology, or meteorology. Topics covered were digitizing technology, GPS, watersheds, software capabilities, and digital ortho-photos. The map gallery, consisting of maps and GIS studies from various organizations, was set up in the Great Hall of the Massachusetts State House, which is a magnificent space with stained glass, colorful flags, arches, and marble. She also worked with students educating them about Geographic Information Systems and mapping.
Students gain hands-on experience working with maps in the computer lab.
In the computer lab, the students typed in their home addresses and were able to pull up individualized maps, which demonstrated the usefulness of geocoding. The school groups were from the New England School for the Deaf in Randolph, Essex Agricultural and Technology High School in Danvers, and Daley Middle School in Lowell. Their school is starting a Marine Science Program and they are engaged in a wetlands mapping project. They were quite interested in hearing about GIS applications in marine and coastal work.