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WPSU show that depicts how geospatial technology mapped COVID to debut July 13

'Geospatial Revolution: Mapping the Pandemic' focuses on how experts from multiple disciplines came together to track, analyze and fight the spread of the disease

Dr. Lauren Gardner, who appears in WPSU's "Geospatial Revolution: Mapping the Pandemic," and her Johns Hopkins University dashboard team in an early planning meeting Credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins UniversityAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A new episode of a WPSU production that shows how geospatial technology helped map the COVID-19 pandemic will premiere online on Tuesday, July 13.

“Geospatial Revolution: Mapping the Pandemic” — from public media station WPSU Penn State — focuses on COVID-19's spread across the globe and how experts from multiple disciplines came together to employ geospatial tools and massive amounts of data to track, analyze and fight the disease.

The episode will premiere at 7:30 p.m. on July 13 during a Facebook Live and discussion event. The event is free and more information is available on the Geospatial Revolution Facebook page. The episode also will be available on the Geospatial Revolution website and WPSU Digital Studios webpage following the Facebook event.

“Geospatial Revolution: Mapping the Pandemic” — from public media station WPSU Penn State — focuses on COVID-19's spread across the globe and how experts from multiple disciplines came together to employ geospatial tools and massive amounts of data to track, analyze and fight the disease. The episode will premiere at 7:30 p.m. on July 13. Credit: WPSU Penn State

Confirmed panelists, who are also interviewed in the episode, include:

  • Este Geraghty, chief medical officer of Esri, an international supplier of geographic information system software, web GIS and geodatabase management applications.
  • Dr. Kamran Khan, professor of medicine and public health at the University of Toronto and founder of Blue Dot, makers of outbreak risk software.  
  • Eva Reid, a geographic information system consultant.
  • Dr. Umair Shah, secretary of health for the state of Washington.

“Mapping the Pandemic” highlights how artificial intelligence, machine learning, remote sensing, crowd sourced information, internet of things, computing power and health wearables are just a few of the technologies and advances that allowed health experts, public officials, the public and more to better understand and respond to the pandemic.

"The geospatial community stood up, and I'm so proud of them,” said Jack Dangermond, president and founder of Esri. “Their work has literally saved lives and made things understandable. The world began to see the power of geospatial visualization in their own lives."

With more than 1.25 million video views, the Geospatial Revolution project has been a source for government, education and workforce development to learn how geospatial technology is changing the world. The project, which launched in 2010, is anchored in Penn State’s world-class research university and trusted for its PBS editorial standards.

The newest episode illustrates the far-reaching impact that geospatial information had on decision-making and people’s lives, according to WPSU’s Kristian Berg, the project’s writer, producer and director.

“This is the most current episode we’ve ever done with such an immediate impact on our lives,” he said.

Visit the Geospatial Revolution website for more information about the project. WPSU is a Penn State Outreach service.

Last Updated July 9, 2021

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