Project:
GIS Day at DHSS: GIS Unit holds 3rd Annual DHSS GIS Day Open House
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services' GIS unit held its 3rd Annual GIS Day Open House on November 16, 2005. The activities were held as part of the larger International GIS Day activities sponsored by The National Geographic Society, Association of American Geographers, University Consortium for Geographic Information Science, Library of Congress, and Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI).
The open house provided an opportunity to promote GIS technology at DHSS, display GIS projects, and meet the GIS staff. A hands-on area was available where participants could use GIS software to do things like display a table of address data or create buffers. Also available at the Open House was information on GIS training that is available through the DHSS GIS staff.
A map gallery gave department staff an opportunity to showcase projects that have utilized GIS technology. Posters were displayed on disease outbreaks, emergency response, environmental sampling, and much more. By observing these projects, such as WIC participants in relation to public housing and bus routes or locating high-risk populations for influenza vaccinations, participants could see techniques that can be utilized in their own work.
A newly added element to the Open House was a station for Global Positioning Systems (GPS). Attendees learned about the uses of GPS, and then used GPS receivers to navigate outside to a special location. At the location, participants found a hidden box that contained a logbook to sign and a prize.
In all, over 100 people attended the GIS Day Open House. The event accomplished its goals of increasing the awareness of GIS technology and educating staff on the diverse applications of GIS at DHSS.
Contact:
Tracy Schloss, GIS Coordinator
Information Technology Services Division
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
930 Wildwood
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570
(573) 522-5654
Web site:
www.dhss.mo.gov/GIS/