GIS Day events Nov. 18

“Cooperative Resource Management” will be the theme of the 2009 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day event on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the McLean County Government Center, 115 E. Washington St., Bloomington.

The event, co-sponsored by the McLean County Regional GIS Consortium and Illinois State University’s Institute for Geospatial Analysis and Mapping (GEOMAP) and GTU/Geography Club, is free and open to the public.

GIS technology is a computer-based mapping tool that takes information from a database about a location, such as streets, buildings, water features and terrain, and turns it into visual layers. The GIS Day event will feature displays and presentations on how GIS technology is used in various fields including law enforcement, education, regional planning and local and county government.

• 9 a.m. – noon – Displays and interactive demonstrations of GIS technology, McLean County Board Room (Room 400).
• 11 a.m. – Signing of GIS Day proclamation by Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton, Normal Mayor Chris Koos, McLean County Board Chairman Matt Sorensen, Illinois State University President Al Bowman and Illinois Wesleyan University President Richard Wilson.
• 1-3 p.m. – Presentations and demonstrations of GIS technology by representatives from Illinois State University, Bloomington Police, National Geodetic Survey and McLean County Regional GIS Consortium (Room 404).

Next article: Sorensen to speak on United Nations Nov. 18