UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Beginning Feb. 21, the Research Informatics and Publishing department and the Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps and Geospatial Information at Penn State University Libraries will offer four workshops on maps, GIS and data visualization.
This workshop series connects Penn State users to map and GIS resources, geospatial data and GIS software applications available to use in their projects. Participants will learn about geospatial resources available from the University Libraries along with public sources for U.S. and international locations. Software examples will include using geospatial content with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro. Additional demonstrations will be made with related ArcGIS Online applications, including ArcGIS StoryMaps.
The workshops are free and open to Penn State undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, staff and faculty. No previous knowledge of maps or GIS is required.
Participants may attend either online or in person, as indicated. Those planning to attend online must register at the link provided. Registration is indicated as needed for in-person attendance.
For more information, contact repub@psu.edu.
Workshop schedule
Introduction to GIS Data, Software and Map Resources — Feb. 21, 3 to 4 p.m. (online or in W13 Pattee Library)
This introductory session will provide participants with an overview of GIS data, software and map resources available from Penn State and the University Libraries. Participants will learn about openly available U.S. and international geospatial data sources. Information will be provided on access to ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS ArcMap, and ArcGIS Pro. An optional tour of the Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps and Geospatial Information (1 Pattee Library) is available for those attending in person.
Presented by Tara Anthony, GIS specialist.
Using Geospatial Data, Media, and Narrative in ArcGIS StoryMaps — Feb. 23, 3 to 4 p.m. (online or in W13 Pattee Library)
This introductory session will provide participants with an overview of ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS StoryMaps. Users authenticate to the Penn State ArcGIS Online account with their Penn State credentials. Examples will be provided related to searching for geospatial data, creation of web maps, use of media, and incorporation of narrative into ArcGIS StoryMaps. An optional tour of the Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps and Geospatial Information (1 Pattee Library) is available for those attending in person.
Presented by Tara Anthony, GIS specialist.
Migrating to ArcGIS Pro from ArcMap — Feb. 28, 1–3 p.m. (online or in W211A Pattee Library) Registration is required for in-person attendance.
Join this workshop to learn about new ArcGIS Pro capabilities for data visualization, analysis and the connection to web GIS. Participants will also learn how to migrate content from ArcMap and familiarize themselves with the ArcGIS Pro interface, licensing options and common workflows. With ArcMap set to retire, it’s time to see how ArcGIS Pro can replace ArcMap, but also serve as the gateway for a web-enabled GIS. This session is part of the workshops offered by the Esri Education team.
Presented by Brian Baldwin, senior solution engineer, Esri.
Penn State users can find information about available Esri software at the GIS software site. Additional resources on ArcGIS Pro are available at the Maps & Geospatial: ArcGIS Pro guide.
Harnessing the Power of Near-Daily Satellite Imagery: Introduction to Planet Labs and Science Applications — March 20, 3:30–4:30 p.m. (online)
The space industry is undergoing a rapid transformation that allows us to see our world like never before. Planet Labs is a revolutionary satellite imagery provider, capturing near-daily observations over Earth’s landmass that consist of a 3.7-meter spatial resolution and contain eight channels of multispectral information. This unique data set offers many opportunities to explore Earth like never before. Join Planet Labs to learn about applications from our global science community ranging from measuring cryosphere dynamics in the Arctic to monitoring some of the most biodiverse areas in the world.
Presented by Austin Stone, customer success manager, education and research, Planet Labs.
To learn more before the talk, check out Planet's Science Programs. To see Planet images, check out Planet’s gallery. Additional resources from Planet Labs are available on the Maps & Geospatial: Remotely Sensed Data guide.