UTSA joins in worldwide celebration of 2014 GIS Day Nov. 19

By Kris Rodriguez
Public Affairs Specialist

(Nov. 13, 2014) -- The UTSA Department of Political Science and Geography will celebrate 2014 GIS Day from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19 in the Arts Building Gallery (2.03.04) on the UTSA Main Campus. The worldwide celebration is an annual salute to geospatial technology and its power to transform and better our lives.

A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer system that allows users to visualize, question, analyze and interpret data to understand relationships, patterns and trends. A GIS can capture, store, manipulate, manage and present all types of spatial or geographical data.

The technology has applications to engineering, planning, management, transport/logistics, insurance, telecommunications and business. It also helps users make better decisions about locations including real estate site selection, route/corridor selection, evacuation planning, conservation and natural resource extraction.

GIS-based maps and visualizations greatly assist in understanding situations and in storytelling. It also is essential in understanding what is happening and what will happen in geographic space.

GIS Day will allow students and faculty to connect with others working on GIS research projects around campus. Participants also can learn about GIS-related resources available to the UTSA community.

GIS Day is sponsored by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri), UTSA Geographical Society, and the UTSA Department of Political Science and Geography.

Scheduled agenda:

"What is GIS?"
Nazgol Bagheri, UTSA assistant professor of geography and director of the Critical GIS Research Laboratory

"GIS Applications in Urban Housing Development"
Rebecca Walter, UTSA assistant professor of urban and regional planning

"Geospatial Visualization of Health Disparities"
Corey Sparks, UTSA associate professor of demography

"GIS and Ancient Agrarian Technologies in the Andes"
Sonia Alconini, UTSA associate professor of archaeology

"GIS Applications in San Antonio CPS Energy"
Henry Figueroa, GIS analyst, CPS Energy

------------------------------

For more information, contact Nazgol Bagheri at 210-458-8256.

Connect online with UTSA on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Events

Friday, May 3, 11:30 a.m.

McNair Scholars' Spring Celebration

This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.

North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main Campus

Wednesday, May 15, 6:00 p.m.

Doctoral Conferral Ceremony

At this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.

Arts Building Recital Hall, Main Campus

Thursday, May 16, 3:00 p.m.

Roadrunner Walk

Roadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.

Student Union Paseo, Main Campus

Friday, May 17, 10:00 a.m.

Commencement: Ceremony One

Celebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

Friday, May 17, 4:30 p.m.

Commencement: Ceremony Two

Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

Submit an Event

Spotlight

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.