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.