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Welcome to our geographic information science (GIS) and technology blog. We feature a mixture of GIS academic articles, news, USC student stories and interesting GIS application articles. We recommend visiting frequently if you want to find out more about what excites us as GIS practitioners and academics — we aim to provide a mixture of interesting GIS news articles, career information and highlights from the GIS programs at the University of Southern California. Some of the key topics you can expect to find within our blog include:
- Profiles of cutting-edge GIS research from USC faculty and students
- Innovative use of GIS technologies and forward-thinking analysis
- Careers in GIS and key skills to advance in the field
- GIS applications in specific industries and sectors, like urban planning, environmental science and more
If you’re interested in receiving updates about the GIS graduate degree and certificate programs at the University of Southern California, request information to reach an enrollment specialist; you’ll also receive emails with important program updates and when we publish a new blog article.
What Are The Fundamentals of Cartography?
At its core, cartography is about the visual representation of a space or place. While this may seem like a simple concept at first glance, it can become infinitely complex when you consider the number of choices that have to be made when creating a map. In addition, modern mapmakers …
Your Guide to Professional Graduate GIS Certifications
GIS certifications validate an individual’s knowledge and skills within specific areas of GIS such as the applications of GIS or geospatial intelligence. Given the number of different options, it can be difficult to determine which provides the most benefit to you— especially when you start to examine both graduate certificates …
The Application of Geographic Information Science in Earth Sciences
Geographic Information Science (GIS) provides a powerful means of looking at the world and tools for solving complex problems. Innovations continue to emerge from GIS, whether transportation companies are optimizing logistics or manufacturers are tracking the locations of equipment with Internet of Things sensors. Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST) …
Self-Driving Cars and the Role of GIS in Transportation’s Future
The most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau in 2022 shows that approximately 77.3 percent of American workers over the age of 16 commute to work in a car, van or truck, either alone or in car pools. With over 125 million people hitting the road each day, the …
The Application of GIS Technology for Nonprofit Organizations
With each passing year, Geographic Information Science (GIS) technology offers new insights for businesses and organizations. From using geospatial analytics to analyze crime, to the development of drones, GIS technology offers seemingly endless opportunities for growth and innovation. One of the key areas where GIS has become an invaluable resource …
How Does Remote Sensing Help Save the Earth?
Remotely gathering spatial information is a powerful means to understand and respond to urgent humanitarian and environmental problems. But, for many years, it was challenging to get the information required to take action as remote sensing data was limited and difficult to acquire. Now, with the combination of new data …
What Is the Relationship Between GIS and Marketing?
Location has always played an important role in marketing; however, the spatial component of marketing and advertising has grown even more critical in the digital age. As we become more discerning consumers and more adept researchers, advertising and promotion strategies will need to become more precise and more relevant to …
How Can GIS Help with Emergency Management?
In the wake of a disaster, data-driven maps that harness technology can be a true lifesaver. Using geographic information science (GIS) in emergency management can make an enormous impact in mitigating, responding to and recovering from a major event. After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017, darkness fell across …
How Do GIS Applications Transform Our Response to Climate Change?
Developments in geographic information science (GIS) have transformed how researchers in a variety of fields gather and analyze information about the world around us. Scientists gain valuable insights in areas such as geology and meteorology by gathering remote sensed data and implementing geospatial tools. The perspective offered by GIS technology …
How Is GIS Used in the Field of Public Health?
In today’s increasingly data-driven healthcare systems, obtaining accurate information for analysis is a high priority. Doctors and nurses want to know as much as they can about the factors that affect each patient’s care, while administrators and public health officials need to keep an eye on population-level trends and maintain …
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Fill out the information below to learn more about the University of Southern California’s GIS Graduate Programs and download a free brochure. If you have any additional questions, please call 213-325-2474 to speak to an enrollment specialist.
Catalina Island Excursion
Students in the M.S. in GIST, M.S. in HSGI and Graduate Certificate in GIST programs will participate in a week-long fieldwork excursion...
Join us for the Graduate GIS Programs Information Session