Geospatial technology celebrated at GIS Day at Rowan College at Burlington County Nov. 5
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day, sponsored by Burlington County, Rowan College at Burlington County, and the Mid-Atlantic Geospatial Transportation Users Group (MAGTUG), celebrates the value of geospatial technology through hands-on activities and presentations on Thursday, Nov. 5 at RCBC’s Mt. Laurel campus.
“GIS technology impacts everyday life whether you realize it or not,” said Burlington County Freeholder Director Mary Ann O’Brien. “GIS Day is a chance for experts in the field to come together in Burlington County, share their knowledge and demonstrate the ways this technology affects everything from emergency management to mapping projects.”
GIS Day will begin with a morning of speaker presentations highlighting GIS applications across various industries. The afternoon will include the MATUG fall meeting, a hands-on GPS exercise using professional equipment, and GIS exercises using professional software.
A Map Gallery will be on display throughout the day on the third floor of Laurel Hall.
“Rowan College at Burlington County has been proud to host this annual event since 2005. It gives the community insight into the science behind geospatial technology,” said Rowan College at Burlington County President Paul Drayton. “We invite the community to learn more about real-world applications of GIS, GPS, and remote sensing and RCBC’s high-quality degree and certificate programs in geospatial technology. RCBC is preparing students for careers where they can address real-world problems using this technology”
Geospatial technology is used in a variety of ways including mapping wildfires and stormwater, identifying trends, finding directions, inventorying historic preservation sites and trees, taking balloon imagery of wetlands, and much more.
“GIS is influencing the world’s decision-makers,” said Marc Zamkotowicz, RCBC Science, Math & Technology Assistant Professor. “Both GIS and GPS allow us to include a geographic perspective as we find solutions to real-world problems and issues.”
In addition to learning more about RCBC’s academic programs, the day will include a visit from the Mobile Geoscience and Remote Sensing Lab, operated by the Palmyra Nature Cove, and a chance to participate in contests and win prizes.
The GIS Day at RCBC agenda is as follows:
-9 a.m. to noon: Speaker Presentations.
-Noon to 1 p.m.: Lunch.
-1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Mobile Geoscience and Remote Sensing Lab.
-1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.: GPS Outdoor Field Activity.
-1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Fall MAGTUG Meeting & Seminar on Stormwater.
-2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Hands-on, Self-paced GIS Lab Exercises.
-All Day: Map Gallery.
The day’s activities are free and open to the public. Events will be held in Laurel Hall, room 320, and in the TEC building, room 208. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. For more information and to register, please visit co.burlington.nj.us/gisdayatbcc.
Organizations that use GIS are invited to display maps in the Map Gallery. Map submission deadline is Wednesday, Nov. 4. For more information or to display a map in the Gallery, contact Merrilee Torres at (609) 702–7067 or mtorres@co.burlington.nj.us.
