GIS Fest at UMD

Colorful Map Topography

The Geospatial Analysis Center at UMD will host GIS Fest on Thurs., Nov. 15, 2018, from 1-5 pm in the Kirby Ballroom.

UMD students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to learn how GIS (Geographic Information Science) and spatial data is beneficial to getting jobs and solving problems in the region.

Talks will cover a wide range of fields including:

  • GIS in elementary education
  • Fighting the opioid epidemic
  • Learning about mercury distribution in the St Louis River Estuary
  • Solving problems at Minnesota Housing

And UMD GIS students, alumni, community partners and faculty will share their work. The event will include exhibits and short presentations from 1-4. Come learn about spatial web services and applications, the future of the geospatial industry, drones, and more! 

Exhibitors planning to be there:

Lake County, ARDC, Barr Engineering, Esri, Mn GIS/LIS Consortium, Moore Engineering, National Weather Service, NorthPoint Geographic Solutions, NRRI GIS LAB, St Louis County, UMD Geospatial Analysis Center, UMD Geography, US EPA, Antea Group, U-Spatial & UMN MGIS Program, USDA Forest Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, Fond du Lac Community College, USDA Farm Services Agency, NRRI Minerals, Metallurgy & Mining, Bismarck Map Company, Minnesota Power, Superior Water, Light and Power, UMD CLA, Itasca Community College

Fest Schedule

UMD Faculty Research
1:00  Jennifer Frisch - Exploring Place with GIS Story Maps in Elementary Education
1:15  George Host - Use of Drones and LiDAR in Forestry
1:30  Laura Palombi - Opioid Epidemic: Exploring Spatial Data
1:45  Nate Johnson - Spatial distribution of Mercury in the St Louis River Estuary

UMD GIS Alumni
2:00  Kody Thurnau - Using Spatial Data at Minnesota Housing
2:15  Brandon Keinath - Utility Management at Minnesota Power
2:30  Molly McDonald - Interpretive and Cultural Resource Projects at The 106 Group Ltd.
2:45  Jeff Bloomquist - GIS in USDA Risk Management

Special Topics
3:00  Mike Koutnik - How the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Leverages GIS
3:15  Laure Charleux - Education Summit (GIS education in the Northland)
3:30 – 5:00 Join us for a networking hour with appetizers, drinks and door prizes!

Learn more about UMD's Geospatial Analysis Center.