Student Initiatives: Helping Communities with Interactive Maps

Wansoo Im, Ph.D.
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, TN

The location-based technology has evolved into many various fields, and more and more people have become aware of how GIS can benefit their daily lives.  Starting as only users of location-based services, students and researchers without formal GIS education or training are now exploring possibilities of using GIS in research and community outreach projects.  The exploration of GIS technology has become easier with publicly available GIS websites that enable non-GIS experts to create and customize many different GIS applications via website and smart phones.  During the Spring of 2011, several undergraduate students and community organizations including students from Ajou University in South Korea and Rutgers University were encouraged to develop location-based internet applications as community projects which can benefit communities as part of the student projects or community projects.  Among those projects, three best projects will be selected and presented in the session. 

The presentation will show how technology has evolved where non-GIS professionals can contribute to their communities by using current consumer and mobile GIS technologies.