Electronic Mapping: GIS Links & TPL Greenprinting |
What electronic mapping can and will do for your
project can almost not be fully described. It will make your project
easier to organize, as with the touch of a button you will be able to
call up all projects on your computer. You can instantly measure the
distance between each, know how large each project is, and record collected
work and details about each site. Just such an interactive map is available
on the U-M Oral History Program site on the community page…you
can find a thumbnail link on the front page of this site. Whether your
project deals with the number of parks in your town, providing directions
to students working on building restoration projects, or providing informative
links to help stimulate community involvement, electronic mapping effectively
eliminates the need for the giant-size road maps of the past.
WHAT IS G.I.S.? – A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing things that exist and events that happen on earth. Whether surveying a site for a new business, finding the best soil for growing bananas, or figuring out the best route for an emergency vehicle, local problems also have a geographical component. GIS will give you the power to create maps, integrate information, visualize scenarios, solve complicated problems, present powerful ideas, and develop effective solutions like never before. GIS is a tool used by individuals and organizations, schools, governments, and businesses seeking innovative ways to solve their problems. WHAT IS T.P.L GREENPRINTING? – The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is involved in an aggressive campaign to ‘greenprint’ this country, i.e. use GIS software to identify areas that have the greatest need for new parks and open space. Various TPL projects always begin with mapping the location of various parks and public spaces with any given city. TPL then uses that data to suggest to county boards where are the most pressing parks and public spaces in need of renovation. This data is also used to suggest areas in poor and densely populated neighborhoods that are most in need of new parks. Here are some basic links to sites for more information on GIS and TPL: http://spatialnews.geocomm.com/education/ http://www.geog.nottingham.ac.uk/~mather/useful_links.html http://www.planningreport.com/tpr/?module=displaystory&story_id=859&edition_id=32&format=html http://www.tpl.org/ |