Women in GIS – March 2024

The King County GIS Center is featuring 19 women in GIS from several agencies, highlighting the broad applications of GIS. These women express their passion for GIS and how it has shaped their careers and perspectives. GIS professionals in various fields highlight the power and versatility of GIS and its potential to influence decision-making and create meaningful visualizations for communities. They underline the importance of staying updated with GIS technology and collaborating with colleagues and GIS communities. These women are paving the way for GIS enthusiasts and emphasize the broad range of opportunities in the GIS field across different industries.

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General News

Explain GIS to me like I’m a Fifth-Grader

GIS, or Geographic Information System, is often misunderstood by non-GIS professionals. To address this, resources like short videos and articles from Esri provide fun and accessible introductions to GIS. These materials cover topics such as location intelligence, data sharing, GIS in education, and support for various business functions. Additionally, publications are available for further exploration.

Understanding Users of Tabular GIS Data

The King County GIS Center embarked on a modernization project for its public reporting application, facing challenges in identifying its user base and their needs. Leveraging Microsoft’s Clarity, the team discovered key insights about user behavior, leading to significant UX improvements. The new Districts and Developments report aims to address user needs more effectively.

Data / General News / Project Spotlight

King County’s Septic and Group B Records Search

Public Health and the GIS Center launched a new map-based application in August 2023, consolidating septic and Group B water system records. The app simplifies access to records and provides valuable information for homeowners, potential buyers, companies, and real estate professionals. The application’s successful implementation has been well-received and praised for its ease of use and efficiency.

General News / GIS for Best Run Government / Project Spotlight

King County GIS Center receives URISA’s 2023 Exemplary Systems in GIS Award

I recently attended the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) annual GIS-Pro Conference in Columbus, Ohio. The 2023 URISA ESIG Awards One of the highlights of the Conference is the annual awards breakfast, where inductees into the GIS Hall of Fame are announced, as well as various service awards to URISA members, committees, and…

Who is using ArcGIS Pro anyway?

Understanding GIS software usage at King County, WA Given that ESRI is ending support for ArcGIS Desktop in 2026, the King County GIS Center needed to understand the migration of users from ArcGIS Desktop to ArcGIS Pro. Specifically, we wanted to know who is using ArcGIS Pro and how often they’re using it. Today we…

Women in GIS – March 8, 2023

Today I want to acknowledge International Women’s Day and that King County’s Women in Technology event chose “Women in GIS” to feature as the spotlight.

GIS is everywhere (and everything, all at once)

I recently had the opportunity to contribute to a discussion on Women in IT, with a spotlight on GIS. We had a set of questions to choose from, and I chose to answer “How is GIS different or the same as IT?” and “What would you say to help encourage/mentor women if they were considering the IT profession?”

Sound to Summit Regional GIS Call to Action

Recently the Sound to Summit Regional GIS Steering Committee approved a final report with key recommendations for pursuing a regional, collaborative GIS. Early in 2022 agencies in the region will receive a call to action – first to attend a series of kick-off/informational sessions. These sessions will review the process that the Sound to Summit…

All aboard! – King County GIS Training is your best route to master ArcGIS Pro in 2022

Have you made the transition to ArcGIS Pro? Plan your route to the future GIS skills and abilities you will need with several ArcGIS Pro classes from the KCGIS Training Program in early 2022. While COVID-19 restrictions remain in place all KCGIS classes are presented remotely, via ZOOM. To maximize class effectiveness, class size is…

Chart a New Course – Master ArcGIS Pro with KCGIS as Part of Your Crew!

Have you made the transition to ArcGIS Pro? Chart your course to the GIS skills and abilities you will need with several ArcGIS Pro classes from the KCGIS Training Program in 2021. While COVID-19 restrictions remain in place all KCGIS classes are presented remotely, via ZOOM. To maximize class effectiveness, class size is limited to…

Department of Enterprise Services and King County Partner to Bring GIS Training to Washington State and Beyond

By Marcia Moody and Greg Babinski Bringing GIS training to agencies across Washington StateOn January 8, 2007, eight State of Washington employees made their way from Olympia to the King County GIS Center Training Facility in downtown Seattle. At 8:00am, a King County GIS training instructor, Mary Ullrich, welcomed the eight, as well as eight…

Urban Indian Health Institute advances their mission with KCGIS support

We at both King County GIS (KCGIS) and Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) acknowledge that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present, and honor, with gratitude, the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe. By Thomas Lawrence, Daysha Gunther, and Martell Hesketh (UIHI) Urban Indian…

mosaic image of individuals from Celebrating Black Geographers

Learn the inspiring stories of Black geographers

The academic discipline of geography provides the basis for the power of geographic information systems (GIS). Geographer Roger Tomlinson from University College London is considered by many the originator of GIS. As a geography student at Wayne State University in Detroit, I was influenced by geographers like William Bunge, Robert J. Goodman, and Edward Ullman.…

Go for the Summit – Take your ArcGIS Pro skills to the top with KCGIS as your guide!

Have you made the transition to ArcGIS Pro? Take your skills to the top with two advanced ArcGIS Pro classes from the KCGIS Training Program to choose from in 2021. While COVID-19 restrictions remain in place all KCGIS classes are presented remotely, via ZOOM. To maximize class effectiveness, class size is limited to just seven…

GIS & You

News from the King County GIS Center