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Mark your calendars for an exciting journey as we celebrate GIS Day on November 20! GIS, or Geographic Information System, is a modern marvel that has revolutionized mapping and continues to play an integral role in our daily lives. The roots of this special day go back to 1999 when it was first initiated by ESRI, a renowned international supplier of GIS software. Ever since, it has grown into a worldwide event with people participating from different corners of our planet. Community outreach, open houses, map galleries, geo-quests - there's no limit to how we can celebrate GIS Day. So, join us as we uncover the hidden stories of our fascinating world through the vivid and informative lens of GIS!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1962</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Invention of GIS</div><div class='timeline-text'>Roger Tomlinson, known as the "father of GIS," invented the concept while working for the Canadian government.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1969</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First GIS Software</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first operational GIS was developed by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI).</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1990s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>GIS Goes Digital</div><div class='timeline-text'>The evolution of digital mapping technologies in the 1990s facilitated a new era for GIS, making it more user-friendly and accessible.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1999</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First GIS Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>ESRI President and Co-founder Jack Dangermond inaugurated the first GIS Day with Ralph Nader, promoting the awareness of digital geography and geospatial information in society.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2010s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Popularity and Accessibility</div><div class='timeline-text'>The use of GIS tools became more popular and accessible with the rise of smartphones and GPS technology, increasing participation in GIS Day activities.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2020</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>GIS Day Goes Virtual</div><div class='timeline-text'>Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the GIS Day events went virtual, which provided opportunities for a more global participation.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Host a GIS-themed trivia night</h3><p class='facts-text'>Gather your friends, family, or colleagues and host a trivia night focused entirely on geographic concepts and GIS. It's a fun way to educate them about the significance of spatial thinking in our daily lives.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Animate your map</h3><p class='facts-text'>Utilize GIS software to animate your own dynamic map depicting certain phenomena, historical events, or ongoing processes. Sharing your creation on social media could inspire others to appreciate the power of GIS.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Participate in a Geo-Quest</h3><p class='facts-text'>Engage in a real-life adventure by participating in a Geo-Quest or Geo-Caching. These games overlay physical terrain with digital information, leading participants on a quest using GPS coordinates.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Arrange an interactive GIS workshop</h3><p class='facts-text'>Partner with schools and community organizations to host a GIS workshop. This could be an engaging way to introduce more people to the world of digital mapping and spatial analysis.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Curate a map gallery</h3><p class='facts-text'>Collect some of the most interesting, informative, and stunning map examples created using GIS. Offer viewers a window into the diverse applications and infinite possibilities of GIS.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It Increases Geographic Literacy</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Generally, the understanding of geographic concepts and spatial relationships is lacking among the public. GIS Day provides a platform to raise the awareness and improve geographic literacy in a fun and engaging way.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It Showcases the Power of GIS</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>GIS technology has drastically altered how we collect, view, and analyze geographical data, making it an invaluable and powerful tool in various fields. GIS Day is a great time to showcase this power, by highlighting extraordinary GIS applications and innovations.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It Fosters Community Engagement</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>GIS Day encourages community engagement through various interactive activities such as Geo-Quests, trivia nights, and GIS workshops. It offers a unique opportunity for individuals and communities to come together and learn about the world around them.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>GIS is instrumental in emergency responses and disaster management</h3><p class='facts-content'>GIS technology allows for rapid, real-time data collection and analysis, making it an essential tool in minimizing disaster impact and aiding in effective disaster response and recovery.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>GIS can help predict crime hotspots</h3><p class='facts-content'>Law enforcement agencies around the globe utilize GIS to help predict where crimes are likely to occur based on historical data, aiding in resource allocation and proactive policing.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>GIS plays a role in autonomous vehicle technology</h3><p class='facts-content'>GIS data contributes towards the functioning of autonomous vehicles. It helps create detailed and dynamic maps that self-driven cars use for navigation and decision-making.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>GIS helps in conservation efforts</h3><p class='facts-content'>To conserve endangered species and protect ecosystems, conservationists use GIS tools to track animal migrations, changes in habitats, and monitor human impact.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>GIS played a part in eradicating Polio</h3><p class='facts-content'>During global efforts to eradicate Polio, GIS was used to create detailed maps of remote and conflict-affected regions, aiding in effective vaccination campaigns.</p></div></div>
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