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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 Is GeoAI? A Practical Guide to AI-Powered Spatial Analysis
Artificial intelligence has moved from an experimental capability to a working component of technical practice in fields ranging from finance to biomedical research. Its reach into geographic information sciences (GIS) work has been equally consequential, making GeoAI one of the most exciting emerging technologies in GIS. Many of the problems …
Why GIS Is Important in Urban Planning
Cities are systems of tremendous, ever-evolving complexity. Responsibly guiding an area’s development requires spatial information that’s robust, nuanced and constantly updated, as well as the problem-solving skills to apply that information. This challenge has made geographic information science and technology (GIST) invaluable to urban planners. Spatial data points the way …
What Is Spatial Data Analysis?
Spatial data analysis is a robust field that has been key to many innovations and advancements in the technologies that we use in our day-to-day lives. Also known as geospatial analytics, spatial data analysis involves using modern information science and technology advancement to collect, analyze and interpret location-based data to …
Top Skills For GIS Professionals
Organizations rely on geographic information science (GIS) for applications ranging from navigation in autonomous vehicles to mobile games played in real-world spaces. GIS specialists reveal valuable insights by employing best practices of spatial data collection, analysis and visualization. Their discoveries fuel problem solving and strategic decision making in organizations such …
How to Become a GIS Analyst
Geographic information systems are often unknown by the general public, but they touch nearly every industry, from urban planning and public health to logistics and environmental science. Some of the key professionals supporting organizations with GIS technology are GIS analysts, who bridge the gap between highly technical spatial data and …
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 …
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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...