To quote WikiPedia, “ArcGIS is a geographic information system (GIS) for working with maps and geographic information maintained by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). It is used for creating and using maps, compiling geographic data, analyzing mapped information, sharing and discovering geographic information, using maps and geographic information in a range of applications, and managing geographic information in a database.” To us, good maps are gateways to good stories. There may be, as Emily Dickenson once opined, no frigate like a book, but a well-designed map can be a rocketship towards understanding trends, issues and problem areas.
Watson Hanson is a second-year Masters student in Environmental Management (Climate & Energy) at the University of San Francisco, concentrating in Geographic Information Systems through their Geospatial Analysis Lab. We’ll be collaborating on a variety of maps and stories over the next few months, drawing on the wealth of data available from sources like Cal EPA’s CalEnviroScreen 4.0, the State Water Board and the 2020 U.S. Census.
Stay tuned for some stories!