actemplatestg, Author at USC GIS Graduate Programs

How Geographic Information Science Can Help Business

May 8, 2021 8:38 am Comments Off

Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST)—focused on capturing, analyzing, and leveraging spatial information—is blossoming with opportunities for prospective students and career seekers as organizations around the globe continue to utlize GIS. From the outer reaches of space, back down to earth for agricultural land plotting, urban planning, and even in retail, geographic information science (GIS) transforms the way humans interact with the world around them. If you’re considering pursuing a career in GIS, you might be wondering about its potential industry applications.

Just as opportunities for careers in GIS are uniquely diverse, so too are the possible GIS applications in the business world.

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How Can GIS Be Used in Business?

GIST has become an essential component of modern life. Traditional uses of GIS for business include geography and cartography. But GIS is expanding far beyond the traditional, spurred on by technological advances that provide easier real-time access to a bounty of geospatial data. In fact, using GIS in business has become mainstream and it’s now easy to find widespread GIS adoption in every business sector. Such organizations—in both the private and public sectors—include municipalities and state governments, utilities and telecommunications providers, railroad and civil engineering firms, and oil and gas and retail companies.
applications of gis in business
For example, a telecommunications provider might use GIS technology to inform site selection decisions and map out cell tower placement. On the other hand, a retail outlet might use GIS data to analyze product placement across its brick-and-mortar stores, repositioning certain products based on regional interests or to improve efficiency in its supply chain.

“Data Is King”

As the adage goes, “data is king;” and organizations of all shapes and sizes are starting to wake up to the value that big data analytics can bring to their businesses. This includes geographical data. So how can GIS be used in business analytics?

Manufacturers Use GIS Data to Identify Brand Preferences

Going back to the retail space as one example, on a broad level, consumer goods manufacturers can leverage GIS technology and spatial analytics to track social media activity and identify brand preferences or buying habits that are prevalent in certain geographies. By using GIS for business geographics, for example, a corporation could decide to house its manufacturing plant in an area with less population density or near a water source that would enable it to use clean energy.

Marketing Organizations Use GIS Data and Analytics for Customer Segmentation

When it comes down to it, for any type of business, success comes down to delivering what customers want and need. But a business can’t deliver unless it understands its customers—not just what they want, but the way they want it delivered. By using GIS combined with big data analytics, organizations can learn more about their customers than they ever could before. And, since not all customers are created equal, geospatial analytics can enable more sophisticated customer segmentation, allowing organizations to craft ultra-targeted marketing campaigns based on GIS Data and Analytics to deepen engagement with existing customers or attract new ones.

Data: Collect It All

In addition to big data analytics, another trend that has contributed to increased adoption of GIS for business is the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT refers to the trend of the ever-growing number of internet-connected devices, which include sensors, smart home technology, control systems and numerous other types of equipment. This degree of connectivity means that information must be collected from disparate objects with highly variable software environments.

Businesses leverage IoT sensor data, which often includes geospatial data, for a limitless number of applications. For example, some Domino’s Pizza Inc. franchise groups outfit their locations’ freezers with sensors that can alert managers to temperature changes that indicate failure, offering the business an opportunity to move its food inventory before the failure causes spoilage.

The Time for GIS is Now

Chris Tucker, chairman of the American Geographical Society and founder of MapStory, has stated that 2018 will be the year that all the “cliché” tech trends—cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT, open source, SaaS, drones, and commercial space—collide with the world of GIST to make something “new and powerful.”

“Those organizations poised with know-how and budgets to harness the available data sources and this arsenal of tools will quickly dominate,” Tucker told Boundless. “Those who think that old school GIS with traditional sources will keep them competitive will begin dying.”

All in all, when considering how can GIS be used in business, the opportunities are truly endless. And as trends like big data and IoT continue to grow, the potential applications around GIS for business and organizations of all types will grow exponentially.

With the number of spatial data sources being deployed into the world around us continuing to climb, offering organizations more information than they’ve ever had available to them before, the easier question to ask today is: How can’t GIS be used in business.

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The University of Southern California offers a comprehensive selection of online and residential GIS programs. This includes both GIS master’s degrees and GIS graduate certificates. Click on the programs below to learn about our leading geographic information science education.

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USC Alumna Q&A: GIS Analyst Cora Chong

2:54 am Comments Off

USC alumna Cora Chong graduated with her geographic information science and technology master’s degree in 2017. For her master’s thesis, she examined the use of remote sensing data for urban sprawl and urban growth research, highlighting how remote sensing could help address the issue of incomplete or disparate data about how land is being used.
MS in GIST Alumna Cora Chong

Before graduation, Cora gained a GIS internship with the Southern California Association of Governments, where she assisted with spatial modeling and forecasting. After completing the M.S. in GIST program, she became a GIS Analyst at CBRE, a global real estate company, where she helps to develop location intelligence for both emerging and leading companies.

“I am proud to have become a mentor for members of my team and a representative of my department,” Cora says. “A project I am especially proud of is my involvement in helping find solutions to the challenging issue of homelessness in Los Angeles using GIS as a critical tool.”

Read the rest of our interview with Cora below.

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Interview with GIS Analyst Cora Chong

What are your primary professional goals?

I aim to explore the potential of geospatial technology and how spatial thinking can be used to solve large, scalable challenges. I wish to educate others about the role of GIS in our everyday lives and would like to inspire others to think spatially as well.

Why did you select the University of Southern California’s online M.S. in GIST program among others that you may have been considering?

I was drawn to the distinguished faculty, access to resources, and extensive network that the school and the program offered. This program offered me the flexibility of working towards a graduate degree at a world-class university while allowing me to pursue my career.

What would you like others to know about this program?

This program is not just an academic pursuit – it’s a community that you become a part of. I’ve made some amazing friendships with my fellow classmates, and we continue to learn from each other as we move forward in our careers.

Tell us about your thesis on urban sprawl. What inspired you to explore this issue for your thesis project? Did you run into any challenges in completing your project?

My thesis compared different spatial data types for measuring urban sprawl using a quantitative metric often associated with traditional data science – Shannon’s Entropy. I became interested in the spatial properties of cities after recognizing how differently residents of densely populated, vertical cities lived as opposed to how residents in sprawling metropolises lived. As countries develop and mature, the spatial form of their growing cities will define how their residents live and how their economies evolve.

The most challenging part of the project was in the early stages of data acquisition – in order to produce an adequate observation, I needed historical cadastral data from local governments. Many of the local governments I contacted did not collect or publish their archived data. It was through this project that I discovered how challenging data acquisition can be: many organizations have different standards of collection, storage, and distribution.

How were your experiences with faculty, staff and fellow students?

Everyone I’ve interacted with in the program has been instrumental in shaping my love for the spatial sciences. Many of my fellow students were already working professionals, so I was able to learn about how GIST impacts various industries, and what tools or analyses are important for their professions. The faculty and staff were always responsive, friendly, and always made me feel welcomed. I will always consider my professors my mentors, and they’ve inspired me to be curious, inquire, and never stop learning.

What was the most interesting thing for you to learn or work on in the program?

Learning about remote sensing technologies and applications was one of the most interesting and eye-opening topics that I’ve learned in the program. From Landsat to LiDAR, remote sensing is ubiquitous and will continue to play a crucial role in our world.

Was there a particular course you most enjoyed?

SSCI 587 – Spatial Data Acquisition was an incredibly interesting course – the course taught me about different sensors, how to acquire data, how GPS and geocoding works, and how satellites work. The highlight of the course was the field excursion to Catalina Island, where we were given the opportunity to choose an open-ended data collection project in the field. I chose to map out the locations of all the benches in the town of Two Harbors to examine spatial distribution and utilization rate. Not only did I learn a tremendous amount from this course, I also established many lasting friendships with my fellow classmates on the trip.

Has the program benefited you professionally? How have you applied the knowledge and skills you’ve gained?

The program has helped me build a strong technical and analytical foundation that I continue to build upon in my professional career. The transition from graduation to working was smooth – I was able to dive straight into doing professional-level GIS work at my internship, and I felt comfortable with working at an enterprise level after being trained at my current job. I use many of the concepts, best practices, and workflows I learned in the program daily. What I’ve learned about the potential of geospatial technologies has allowed me to peer far into the future – it has opened my mind up to what is possible and how we can get there.

Related content: Cora Chong’s Master’s Thesis

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How Local and Federal Government Use GIS

May 1, 2021 1:13 pm Comments Off

Geographic information science and technology have a long history with both federal and regional government. In fact, the Library of Congress contains the world’s most comprehensive collection of maps, and geospatial intelligence has played a vital role in resolving numerous historical conflicts between nations. But how does the government use GIS today?

Government GIS Data Sharing Continues to Grow

One of the common challenges for how the government uses GIS has been in sharing spatial data among different agencies. This is a key problem even when considering state and local government organizations, but it can be even more difficult to determine how to effectively share information across the local, state and federal level. As noted by some researchers, as much as 80% of data stored by the government has a spatial component. However, differences in operational processes, the structure of the data itself and different policies regarding sharing have contributed to complexity in creating standardized ways for governments to implement spatial data sharing practices.
State and Local Governments Using GIS
Many of the examples for organizations implementing sharing programs and building out spatial data infrastructures come from individual organizations. However, organizational leaders have started to look toward particularly effective practices to use as a model for larger scale sharing.

For example, the Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor was recognized with the 2018 URISA Exemplary Systems in Government Award in the enterprise systems category. The organization developed an Assessor Portal that showcases an abundance of information about real estate and property values, including square footage, type of building (e.g. single-family, multi-family), year built, address and numerous other data points. Users may search either by address, legal assessment description or via a map-based interface.

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Government GIS Applications for Public Health and Safety

One of the major shifts in the government using GIS is the push toward publishing GIS applications and data for both government and non-government users to view. This can be especially useful for bringing awareness to multifaceted problems that might be difficult to understand without a visualization of the scale or potential consequences if issues are left unaddressed.

For example, research published in 2018 by the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), and the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky found that residents living in the Appalachian Region were not as healthy as other Americans, on average. To help others truly feel the impact of this finding, the organizations published a series of reports in the form of interactive maps, which allow users to filter a range of spatial and health information, such as morbidity rates, poverty and other indicators of health. The ability to identify specific problems and key areas of strength for specific regions can be invaluable in improving the effectiveness of outreach. For example, one of the published maps shows the density of mental health providers, which can be instrumental in determining which communities may be in the greatest need of additional counselors or therapists.

Note: The USC online M.S. in GIST program curriculum includes a spatial data acquisition and integration track as well as a data visualization track; this program is GIS professionals who are interested in solving some of the challenges related to data sharing.

Federal Government GIS Applications for Disaster and Air Quality Mapping

One of the popular examples of GIS in government is the mapping of national problems. For example, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) publishes a robust set of earthquake data. This information can then be used to assess the risk of major earthquakes in specific regions and develop strategies for mitigating damage before a disaster occurs.

Related content: How GIS has Transformed Natural Disaster Relief

The National Park Service also leverages GIS for monitoring air quality across its parks. The NPS overlays spatial information with a variety of environmental measures, including ozone, visibility, particulate matter, nitrogen and sulfur deposition, as well as atmospheric mercury. This is helpful for stakeholders ranging from environmental researchers to public health officials, since the visualizations provide an easy way to view areas with problematic air quality, including the issues that impact specific regions.

Note: USC’s online M.S. in Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence is an ideal fit for professionals interested in solving geospatial challenges in domains ranging from earthquake relief to terrorist threat response.

The Future of Government Using GIS

There are a few current trends that offer clues as to how the government will use GIS moving forward. As illustrated in an infographic published by Gov 2020, key links between current GIS technology and the future include:

Geotagged mobile and social data will lead to government agencies being able to send safety and alert information directly to users based on their locations.
Machine learning will become a bigger part of GIS applications, enabling organizations ranging from law enforcement to disaster relief groups to develop spatial models to more accurately predict risks such as crime.
Remote sensing and imaging will evolve, enabling improved monitoring of public infrastructure. Government agencies will be able to use this data to identify infrastructure in need of repairs and better allocate their resources for urban planning.
There will be growth in the number of road signs and utilities with internet connectivity. This will empower utilities and disaster response teams with highly accurate, real-time data they can use to respond to problems like power outages faster than ever.

As all of these trends evolve together, it will likely elevate the importance of data sharing and of open data practices between agencies at the local, regional and federal levels. The availability of more spatial information and the push toward real-time GIS data will necessitate automated sharing, and platforms that multiple agencies can access, since the volume of data and speed at which it is collected will become unmanageable for over reliance on manual processes.

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Spatial Data Acquisition and GIST

April 28, 2021 1:07 am Comments Off

It’s no secret that geographic information science (GIS) is a data-intensive discipline. The huge volumes of spatial information available today have created new challenges as well as opportunities for GIS leaders. Today, we wanted to examine spatial data acquisition more specifically, with questions such as:
spatial data acquisition and gist

What techniques are available for acquiring GIS data?
How can spatial data be sourced from third parties?
What other considerations must be made for effective spatial data acquisition?

Although it is not necessarily something GIS end users always see, acquiring data and building out robust repositories are essential for both the continuation and evolution of GIS as a discipline. In fact, their importance is why the USC Master of Science Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST) program includes a track dedicated to spatial data acquisition and integration. But first, let’s look at what spatial data is and how it has evolved alongside developments in GIS as a whole.

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What is Spatial Data?

Broadly defined, spatial data is any information about a location, structure or other object in physical space. It can include attributes such as the latitude and longitude of a structure, the size and shape of features on Earth. Spatial data is also increasingly used to expand our understanding of the solar system and beyond.

One of the key advancements in spatial data is the ability to create more complex databases that link simple attributes together with more complex ones. For example, a traditional data set may include basic features such as the location of a natural disaster; however, we now have the capability to bring together more complex information, such as near real-time satellite imagery, or information from social media, to create a more comprehensive picture of an event. There is also a push to bring together a larger variety of information than ever before. For example, GIS applications for real estate may include data related to a property’s size, detailed value history, crime rates in the area as well as analytics for predicting its future value.

Spatial Data Acquisition: Sources and Methods

While surveying is not a new method for spatial data collection, it has been enhanced by the evolution of GIS technology. For example, surveyors can use mobile GIS software to view historic surveys and get a general sense of the area before they begin, making their work more efficient. Mobile access to GIS tools and databases can also make the task of entering raw data faster, since surveyors can also enter their measurements directly.

Remote sensing is another common method that has advanced considerably alongside other disciplines within GIS. The development of satellites capable of higher resolution imagery and image recognition algorithms have made it possible to automatically capture higher volumes of data with greater accuracy. Additionally, technology such as hyperspectral imaging and multispectral imaging has offered the ability to capture a larger variety of information; for instance, hyperspectral imagery can be used to quickly identify natural resources such as oil.

In addition to collecting data themselves, GIS experts have an ever-growing number of third-party sources to draw from. Numerous government entities have their own spatial data repositories that they make available for GIS practitioners; for example, NASA’s Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center provides a range of information related to several broad themes, including poverty, infrastructure and conservation.

Open data initiatives have also helped to propel spatial data acquisition forward by making large volumes of information available for free.

Challenges and Opportunities for Spatial Data Acquisition in GIS

Historically, relying entirely on manual data collection methods created the challenge of limited data from a small number of sources being available. With the evolution of GIS, however, modern challenges are more focused on factors such as:

Ensuring the quality and accuracy of spatial data
Keeping pace with new technology developments to collect spatial data effectively
Analyzing large volumes of spatial information and using spatial reasoning to draw appropriate conclusions

It is one thing to collect spatial data or build applications that can use it. Building effective and innovative GIS solutions, however, requires more than a basic understanding of GIS. In fact, some researchers have noted that the misuse of spatial data is becoming a more common problem due to large-scale spatial data consumption— without a comprehensive understanding of GIS tools and techniques as well as their strengths and weaknesses, there is significant danger in reaching inaccurate conclusions and making poor decisions as a result.

As GIS evolution continues and there are even more sources of data, there will be a stronger need to think consciously about how we use that data. Further, creating environments that effectively mitigate this risk requires a comprehensive blend of skills, including spatial reasoning, technical understanding, creativity and problem-solving.

About USC’s M.S. in GIST: Spatial Data Acquisition and Integration Track

The online M.S. in GIST program at USC offers a track dedicated to understanding the challenges and opportunities associated with leveraging spatial data effectively.

In addition to building a foundation for spatial thinking with courses that cover the basics of spatial databases, this track enables students to more closely examine methods and sources for acquiring spatial data— topics covered include the role of crowdsourced data, technology innovations in remote sensing and GIS project management.

The courses suggested for those interested in spatial data acquisition are:

SSCI 585: Geospatial Technology Project Management
SSCI 588: Remote Sensing for GIS
SSCI 593: Spatial Data Integration

The M.S. in GIST features three other suggested tracks for students interested in developing complimentary skills to elevate their GIS careers. These tracks are spatial application development, spatial data analysis and visualization, and spatial thinking. If you have any questions about which track may best fit your goals, do not hesitate to request information and speak to an enrollment specialist.

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Collaboration is Key: How the Academy and Industry Are Tackling “Wicked Problems”

April 25, 2021 1:37 pm Comments Off

“No one’s as smart as everyone.”

COL [R] Steven D. Fleming knows firsthand how teamwork and collaboration can lead to better decisions and better results. The University of Southern California professor spent 30 years in the U.S. military, where he served in both combat and humanitarian-assistance missions. In his line of work, teamwork doesn’t just improve processes — it saves lives.

When Fleming sat down with HxGN Radio to talk about Hexagon technology in academia and research, it was no surprise that collaboration was at the forefront of his comments.

“Good teams communicate well, cooperate well and care about each other,” Fleming says in the interview. “Ensuring that we have good communication amongst academic institutions is a big part of the solution set moving forward.”

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In conversation with the world’s “chaos managers”

Fleming appeared with fellow guests Chris Hanni, a former U.S. Army geospatial analyst and student at the University of South Florida, and Joyce Maphanyane, a researcher and lecturer at the University of Botswana. They discussed the future of geographical information systems (GIS) in academia and research, and how software companies like Hexagon can better work with academic communities such as the USC Dornsife Spatial Sciences Institute to solve global issues.

“I think we’re going to see geospatial sciences have better reach across academic institutions moving forward,” Fleming says. He states that companies like Hexagon will need to figure out how to provide multidisciplinary approaches to the world’s “wicked problems,” both natural and man-made. “Attacking a problem from multiple angles is going to be huge as we move forward.”

Fleming, Hanni and Maphanyane all talked about how GIS tools are allowing them to better detect, monitor and solve problems.

Hanni built a spatial algorithm using Hexagon’s Spatial Modeler and Google’s TensorFlow machine-learning platform that classifies and tracks palm trees in Florida. The Sabal Palm, the state tree of Florida, is being wiped out in record numbers by a deadly bacteria.

“If there’s a mitigation strategy, if there is going to be a cure that’s going to be implemented, we have to find out where the sick palm trees are at,” says Hanni. “My maps provide that information.”

In Botswana, Maphanyane’s students use ERDAS IMAGINE and satellite imaging to track land cover changes. Land cover is a meter for natural resources that provides insight into how cities are growing and the effect that growth has on other villages, wildlife and water access.

“You can actually go there specifically and say this is this type of land cover, and then link it to the real world and see how much cities are growing and how much people’s fields are being taken by the cities and the villages, which means reduction of food security,” says Maphanyane.

Fleming explains that being able to manage and analyze data quickly can make the difference during rapidly evolving situations. “It’s important to be able to take that imagery, make a good assessment and then provide a good recommendation to a decision maker within, say, six hours.”

The better you can support the world’s “chaos managers,” the better chance these organizations have to save lives.

“Whether we’re talking satellite collects or airborne collects or even terrestrial collects, the requirement today to be able to manage the different forms of data is changing rapidly, and we have to make sure we understand the software applications that best do it,” Fleming says.

Bridging the gap between academia and industry

The GIS field is in a period of more: there are more data points, more collection methods and more powerful tools than ever before. However, this widening array also means that practitioners need more than training — they need an education.

As Fleming explains, collecting data tells you the “where” and “when,” and training on an application tells you the “how.” But it’s education that answers the “why, the what and the who.”

“The better we are at it, the better we’re going to be able to solve the problems of the world,” says Fleming.

That’s where collaboration comes in. Fleming and Maphanyane both believe that education on these technologies needs to start in schools, and that developers of these state-of-the-art programs must be more proactive in working with universities and other academic institutions.

“There are many organizations that have recognized the value in working with students when they’re working on developing themselves as purposeful professionals,” Fleming says.

“Geospatial science is big, and you need to answer many questions. That’s why in academia, there’s a lot of work,” says Maphanyane. “We have to do the groundwork so that we can teach people how to source the data, how to use it, how to analyze it and read it.”

At the same time, academic institutions can initiate relationships with the industry side and look for partnership opportunities that open up access to their students.

“[At USC,] we’re moving in the direction of creating more opportunities for students to use these different forms of software — whether we’re talking the Hexagon suite or other suites that are available, including open source software — in order to be able to solve some of these very challenging problems,” says Fleming.

Academia also needs to pursue internal collaborations as well, and look for ways to bring together the expertise and strengths of diverse departments. This avoids the development of “silos of experience.”

“There’s a whole bunch of academic disciplines right now that are very interested in the geospatial world. Collaboration with them and figuring out how to work and interface with these organizations around campuses is going to be a huge step in the right direction,” Fleming says.

After all, while these different departments and institutions may vary in their approaches, they share one important goal: “At the end of the day, when you listen to people talk about why we do these things and the purpose of using these types of technologies… [it’s] to leave the world a better place than you found it.”

To listen to the full interview or read a transcript of the discussion, visit HxGNSpotlight.

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Geographic Information Science and Technology in the Intelligence Community

April 22, 2021 9:31 am Comments Off

GIS in the Intelligence Community
In the era of big data, few industries have experienced as much growth as those that take advantage of geospatial data. In fact, the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management project estimates that 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created daily, and that a “significant amount” is location-aware.

The proliferation of devices that make it accessible is just as important as the growth of the creation of location-aware data. Satellites, Smartphones, and other GIS technologies allow for more detailed and responsive applications of the data and the data is updated in nearly real-time throughout the day, every day.

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GIS In Intelligence

When private businesses think about big data, it is usually in ways that it can help their business operations; sales figures and trends, inventory tracking, operations monitoring, and customer relationship management. However, governments and the intelligence community have very different applications of geospatial data, and they have been incorporating it into their operations for some time.

For example, where sensors were previously used to canvass an area to help locate targets in hiding, the defense and intelligence community can now use data from commercial providers to track trends and detect patterns in general locations. They can then use their resources to identify activities in specific locations, resulting in more economic and efficient operations.

GIS and the Defense Community

Another way that the defense community is using GIS data is in the assessment of damages to battle areas. Analysts can explore many images to determine the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of a strike, but can be limited by the wait for aerial photos depending on weather conditions, haze, or post-strike conditions. But in the near future, it’s estimated that analysts will have access to dozens of different close-range photos of the target area within a 12-hour period.

Geospatial Intelligence

The unique mix of technology, data, and analytics that is used in the decision making processes in the defense, intelligence, security, and humanitarian fields is known as geospatial intelligence, and the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation has become a leader in advocating for geospatial intelligence as the career most equipped to address the challenges of these industries. Going beyond data analysis and technology use, geospatial intelligence applies established principles, tools, and techniques to analyze the changing patterns of human activity to solve real-world problems. The goal is to better predict future outcomes and location-based decisions.

The Geographic Information Science and Technology degree program at the University of Southern California can serve as a foundation for a career in geospatial intelligence. The comprehensive program marries a world class scientific education with advanced GIS technologies that are directly applicable to the forward-thinking industries of tomorrow. As the need for geospatial technologies increase, so too does the need for professionals with advanced GIS knowledge.

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Innovation in the Unexpected: SSI Founder John P. Wilson On Career Surprises and the Future of GIS

April 20, 2021 7:17 pm Comments Off

Professor John P. Wilson has built his career on finding innovation in the unexpected. In a recent conversation with geographer and educator Joseph Kerski on the Geoinspirations Podcast, he talked about two surprising moments that led to big changes in his life and ultimately the field of geospatial sciences.

The first came during what was supposed to be the “most boring class ever.”

Wilson was the first in his family to attend college and planned to become a lawyer. In a class about land administration that everyone else dreaded, he realized he was fascinated by the science and geography involved.

“For me it was like a lightbulb,” Wilson said. “Wow. Understanding processes and recurrence and space and time matters. That’s what I want to be doing.”

He finished his law degree and immediately enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Geography program.

This lesson came back in a big way, when he had the chance to reimagine the University of Southern California’s Department of Geography into the Spatial Sciences Institute (SSI) — within just a few days turnaround time.

“The last day of June in 2010, the Department of Geography no longer existed, and the first Monday in July the SSI was created,” Wilson said.

The new institute would go on to offer more than a dozen degree and certificate programs, including one of the very first online GIST degrees.

“[The SSI] is a very competitive and aspirational place,” Wilson explained.

“I’m most proud of the fact that we’ve done a good job in all our programs mixing theory, practice and technology. We’re producing students that find valuable careers thereafter.”

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The Future of Geospatial Sciences: Leaders Needed

The discussion looked toward the future as Kerski and Wilson both talked about how the field could continue to stay innovative. They emphasized the need for well-rounded geospatial scientists who consider different perspectives in their work.

“We still need people who can look at a problem holistically and incorporate the human, physical, sociological aspects,” Kerski said.

Wilson laid out the types of people who will help move the field into “the big bold future”:

People who step up and take the lead.

“Leadership is what we’re short on in this world — we need people with vision who can get people to follow them and do really creative things.”
People who are ready to think big. “The limit here is not the theory we have already nor the technology nor the practice, but rather taking what we have and imaging a big, bold future, organizing a vision around that and then systematically getting people together to execute that.”
People willing to go beyond their specialties and collaborate. “The academy has been super comfortable for centuries operating in silos,” Wilson said. “There’s a delicate balance between breadth and depth . . . and I’m certainly pushing [the SSI] to build and sustain breadth without compromising depth.”

Wilson said that online education, which has been a part of the SSI since 2010, will become even more prominent in the future: “That’s where the future lies, frankly.” But one thing that will remain the same, no matter what the future holds, is the student-focused culture of SSI.

“The culture that we’ve tried to build is that the students are the future,” Wilson said. “We motivate students to go out and do great things in the world. I’m super proud of their accomplishments.”

Access the Full Interview

You can listen to the full interview through the Geoinspirations Podcast Series from Directions Magazine. Additional highlights include Wilson talking about the legal case that changed his career, his argument for why we need more community-driven initiatives and his answer to the question, “What’s your favorite map or dataset?”

About USC’s Online Graduate Geospatial Intelligence Programs

USC’s GEOINT graduate programs have been designed to prepare students for the challenges and the future of the discipline. As a result, our students will gain a foundation in leveraging spatial thinking to solve geospatial intelligence problems as well as practical knowledge for assessing data quality, analyzing many different types of data and presenting intelligence reports. Learn more about our geospatial intelligence programs by clicking below.

Online Geospatial Intelligence Master’s Degree

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How Drones Are Improving Emergency Wildfire Response

4:53 pm Comments Off

The California wildfires of 2020 captured the country’s attention as the blazes set sobering records for damage to property and life. It was an intense situation that mobilized GIS professionals at the University of Southern California and beyond to push the capabilities of their technologies. This was especially true for the field of unmanned aerial systems (UASs).

When Delays and Mistakes Are Measured in Acres Burned, Data Needs to Be Fast and Accurate

California is no stranger to wildfires, but 2020 was an especially brutal year. The state experienced nearly 10,000 fire incidents, including one that earned the grim distinction as the first “gigafire,” a burn that exceeded one million acres. Of the top-ten worst fires in California’s history, half occurred in 2020.

At one point in September 2020, more than 14,000 firefighters were actively responding to blazes across the state. Thousands more personnel were on the frontlines trying to make strategic moves in volatile conditions. With how quickly a wildfire can escalate and the sometimes unpredictable nature of its spread, accurate and fast GIS data was critical to making decisions that would save lives and rescue communities.

With so many people spread across so many acres, the pressure was on to not only collect the data as quickly as possible, but share it in a way that a multiplicity of stakeholders, ranging from firefighters and emergency response teams to state and federal disaster prevention agencies, could interpret and apply the information.

This is where UASs and the geospatial consulting firm GeoAcuity rose to the occasion.

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How GeoAcuity Moved From Take-Off to Published in Less Than 48 Hours

GeoAcuity in action “We can show up on-site; throw up a UAS; and within an hour of the flight, have images rapidly processed and into the hands of the people who need [them] most,” GeoAcuity founder and USC adjunct associate professor Jason T. Knowles told ArcNews.

The team did just that. Using UASs, Esri’s cloud-based mapping software Site Scan, and other ArcGIS technology, GeoAcuity was able to capture massive amounts of data related to the North Complex fire and the CZU August Lightning Complex fire. They were then able to process that data and post images to ArcGIS Online within 24 to 48 hours. These included 2D orthomosaics, 360-degree panoramic photos and aerial videos.

GeoAcuity reported more than 90,000 views on its web app. Not only did emergency teams use the resulting imagery, but residents and volunteers accessed imagery like before-and-after photos and maps to aid in recovery.

Find Out the Whole Story

ArcNews has an excellent write-up of how GeoAcuity managed their response and the technologies and techniques they used, as well as an analysis of how an integrated workflow can be applied to future disaster responses. Read the full article here.

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The Application of Geographic Information Science in Earth Sciences

April 17, 2021 3:36 pm Comments Off

GIS Applications in Earth Science
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) also plays a vital role in scientific research, with a broad array of applications for spatial data and visualizations in earth science. The professionals who use these methods to gather, analyze, manipulate and visualize geographic data can reveal fascinating details about our world and even other planets. When you explore how GIST is employed in various fields, it’s easy to see why geospatial reasoning is increasingly vital to growing our understanding of earth science and pursuing new avenues of inquiry.

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GIS in Geology

Geologists investigate the planet’s structure, composition and changes over time. However, it’s not always practical for scientists to visit a location for field observation. The application of remote sensing in geology means scientists can use electromagnetic radiation to collect detailed information from all over the world. Interpreting and visualizing the data that comes from those remote sensors are among the primary uses of GIS for geologists.

GIS experts map out features of the earth’s surface and offer guidance for natural resource management. The availability of open data portals means that there is a vast amount of valuable information available to geologists everywhere. For example, The U.S. Geological Survey provides researchers and organizations with a robust assortment of GIS data, such as topographic details for the entire country and interactive maps of the North American coastline. With detailed spatial information, it is possible to model subsurface water flow or assess the stability of terrain for oil and gas exploration.

Spatial reasoning is particularly valuable in the mining industry, where mineral exploration using remote sensing and GIS leads to effective prospecting. Organizations identify the probable locations of deposits by mapping surface features and performing spectral analysis in search of telltale chemical interactions. Extensive data and the ability to leverage spatial thinking skills allow leaders to operate efficiently and make informed decisions about where to drill.

For the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, spatial data enables responsible exploration and reclamation operations. The department’s Mining and Minerals Division uses GIS to process permit applications and keep tabs on current mining activity. With this information, regulators have the visibility to enforce compliance, maintaining safety standards and mitigating impacts on the environment.

GIS in Meteorology

Mapping and modeling weather and climate with GIS yields valuable insights for meteorologists as they study the processes at work in the atmosphere. Scientists pinpoint the locations of weather events and analyze how systems move over time. Identifying meaningful patterns and trends in GIS weather data leads to more accurate predictions.

The role of satellite remote sensing in climate change studies can be even more crucial. Applying GIS in climate change research brings attention to phenomena like:

Spatial patterns in rising sea levels
Changes in vegetation within specific regions
Dwindling sea ice and glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere

Precise weather forecasting makes a huge difference in farming, but there are numerous additional uses for GIS in agriculture. Spatial data assists in estimating crop yields and monitoring dangers from drought or flooding. By viewing the CropScape map maintained by National Agricultural Statistics Service, for instance, you can see precisely where various types of vegetation are being cultivated and implement tools for analysis and planning. The importance of remote sensing in agriculture lies in the ability to analyze soil, noting the best spots to plant and determining the best use of fertilizer.

GIS in Oceanography

The vastness and complexity of Earth’s oceans mean that scientists who specialize in the field may focus on topics ranging from marine ecosystems to plate tectonics. The application of GIS in oceanography revolves around assisting researchers by giving them expansive perspectives on the underwater world. For example, the ArcGIS Ocean Basemap offers professionals details on the sea floor and coastal regions, including depth values and the names of features.

Gathering rich information from visible wave band sensors, microwave sensors and radar, satellite oceanography has uses for businesses and government agencies as well as scientists. GIS professionals note important factors like surface temperature and roughness, salinity levels and wave height. These readings, in turn, can warn organizations of hazards developing along the coastline and guide ships through the safest routes.

GIS in Astronomy

Scientists have incorporated GIS into their efforts to understand the universe, mapping from space to teach us more about our own world and explore other planets and objects in our solar system. Employing GIS in astronomy is a means of revealing the mineral composition, topography, tectonic activity of celestial bodies. That’s why NASA has made collecting and analyzing spatial data a key part of unmanned observation missions.

Probes and rovers gather these details using a range of methods and technology, such as the Thermal Emission Imaging System on the 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft and the Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera included in the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. The Astrogeology Science Center offers access to a wealth of the resulting spatial information about planets, moons, and other objects in our solar system. Scientists and the public can view and manipulate the maps to gain a sense of these objects’ geology and topography.

GIS in Environmental Science

Professionals in earth science and many other disciplines, such as biology and social sciences, are engaged in examining how environmental systems function and finding sustainable solutions to environmental threats. Employing GIS for environmental applications ensures these scientists have the spatial information they need to:

Monitor the habitats of endangered species
Facilitate environmental management for sustainable development
Model the effects of pollution on public health
Coordinate conservation efforts across national borders
Find environmental engineering solutions to maintain limited resources

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Geospatial Information and National Security

April 14, 2021 3:04 pm Comments Off

For thousands of years, societies have recognized the importance of geographic data as a means of tracking the unknown through maps. However, in the modern age, this important information is used for more than navigating your way to the nearest coffee house. Today, private companies and governmental agencies combine this data with human behavior studies to handle everything from managing public health issues to curating advertising messages based on regional activities.

Below, we addressed some of the important ways that geospatial information is collected and how it’s changing the way we’ve protected our country since the events on 9/11.

Key Facts About Geospatial Information

What is geospatial science?

Geospatial science is the study of human behavior as it relates to how people use the Earth’s attributes – be it natural or man-made. This distinctive discipline has led to the creation of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT). This term covers the information obtained from this study, with analysis of the locations on the planet and physical features.
geospatial information and national security
This intelligence can be obtained through a variety of sources, including:

Satellite imagery
Global positioning systems (GPS)
Coordinate geometry (COGO)
Unmanned aerial systems (drones)

One unique aspect of GEOINT is the additional benefit of tradecraft – the cognitive method by which location-based intelligence can be applied to ensure a strategic advantage.

Geographic Information System

A computer software and/or system that is expressly used for the collection of data, integration, analysis and distribution of resulting products about the Earth with regard to a physical position.

These products can then be applied to a number of military and civilian purposes, including:

Analysts identify pollution trends for better environmental management
Insurance companies review location data to assess risk
Logistic companies use it to map out optimum delivery routes
Heath companies use it for training public health professionals to help analyze potential geographic effects on health crises
Aid workers use it to predict possible food shortages

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Geospatial Intelligence and National Security: An Overview

For decades, nations have recognized the strategic advantages of using maps for military and domestic response activities. However, in recent years the United States has heavily “stepped-up” the use of GEOINT to help improve national security in the wake of 9/11.

Under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this data essentially has five basic purposes:

Detect threats to the country
Build preparedness in the face of terrorist attacks or natural disasters
Prevent and/or disrupt potential extremist activities
Protect infrastructure and national artifacts
Respond and recover in the face of large-scale attacks or disasters such as mass shootings

To better manage the oversight of GEOINT, the DHS created the Geospatial Management Office in November 2004. This department provides leadership in terms of supporting policy and strategic planning for geospatial intelligence. The organization also provides oversight for the related technology used to obtain and analyze geospatial data.

Over the last few years, DHS has recognized the importance of sharing GEOINT data to related communities to ensure better preparation for potential threats to the union’s safety. In a recent interview with Trajectory Magazine, the DHS identified three strategic governmental partners to assist with this communication directive:

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

The NGA was founded in 1996 as the National Imagery & Mapping Agency. The agency serves a dual role as both a combat support agency and an intelligence agency. Their main goal is collecting, analyzing and distributing geospatial intelligence. The units are composed of highly-trained geospatial intelligence specialists who provide tailored information to command officers during the on-the-ground operations.

Their intelligence was credited as being essential to tracking down Osama Bin Laden – identifying both the compound and how many people resided there. Through their National Geospatial Intelligence College, they train many personnel to include the military’s topographic units.

National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC)

The NSGIC was created with the purpose of improving geospatial information and GIS technology. The agency covers the United States and related territory with members spanning the government, corporate and private sectors.

Geospatial Platform

The Geospatial Platform is a database containing common geospatial data that is open for use by anyone in the public or private sector. The information is available online and broken down by sources. They provide a platform for others to share and host pertinent geospatial data. They also have a detailed list of resources, tutorials and presentations designed to make geospatial information more accessible.

How Civil Service Agencies Use Geospatial Intelligence

Geospatial intelligence is used by more than just national agencies looking to prevent terrorism. Increasingly, local civil service agencies rely heavily on GIS to better protect and serve their communities.

Law Enforcement Agencies

GIS technology can assist police departments in determining resource allocation. Mapping technology can offer visual representation of past criminal activities to determine where to establish a stronger presence. Communities can also contribute to mapping software to maintain a more accurate representation of neighborhood needs.

Once the community map is created, police organizations can use the detailed information to identify potential crime trends. The data can also be shared with other area law enforcement agencies to help prevent large scale criminal activity with greater transparency.

Emergency Management Agencies

Natural Disasters

Emergency management agents depend heavily on geographic information to predict areas that are most at risk. The information can be shared with aid agencies to help locate communities (such as homeless, elderly, low income populations) needing assistance and to distribute much-needed resources such as food and water.

Public Health Emergencies

Local public health organizations can use mapping software to track movement of highly contagious disease transmissions. This data can be used in outreach activities to educate the public of potential risk. The shareable data can also be used by local law enforcement agencies for intervention training.

Geospatial Information is an essential part of our nation’s security. In the past, it has been used to detect everything from military strikes to the location of Osama Bin Laden. Therefore, it is imperative to continue to educate individuals who are knowledgeable about the collection and analysis of this essential data.

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How Can GIS Be Used in Business?

“Data Is King”

Manufacturers Use GIS Data to Identify Brand Preferences

Marketing Organizations Use GIS Data and Analytics for Customer Segmentation

Data: Collect It All

The Time for GIS is Now

About USC’s GIS Graduate Programs

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Interview with GIS Analyst Cora Chong

What are your primary professional goals?

Why did you select the University of Southern California’s online M.S. in GIST program among others that you may have been considering?

What would you like others to know about this program?

Tell us about your thesis on urban sprawl. What inspired you to explore this issue for your thesis project? Did you run into any challenges in completing your project?

How were your experiences with faculty, staff and fellow students?

What was the most interesting thing for you to learn or work on in the program?

Was there a particular course you most enjoyed?

Has the program benefited you professionally? How have you applied the knowledge and skills you’ve gained?

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Government GIS Data Sharing Continues to Grow

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Government GIS Applications for Public Health and Safety

Federal Government GIS Applications for Disaster and Air Quality Mapping

The Future of Government Using GIS

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What is Spatial Data?

Spatial Data Acquisition: Sources and Methods

Challenges and Opportunities for Spatial Data Acquisition in GIS

About USC’s M.S. in GIST: Spatial Data Acquisition and Integration Track

About USC’s GIS Graduate Programs

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In conversation with the world’s “chaos managers”

Bridging the gap between academia and industry

About USC’s GIS Graduate Programs

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GIS In Intelligence

GIS and the Defense Community

Geospatial Intelligence

About USC’s GIS Graduate Programs

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The Future of Geospatial Sciences: Leaders Needed

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About USC’s Online Graduate Geospatial Intelligence Programs

When Delays and Mistakes Are Measured in Acres Burned, Data Needs to Be Fast and Accurate

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How GeoAcuity Moved From Take-Off to Published in Less Than 48 Hours

Find Out the Whole Story

About USC’s Online Graduate Geospatial Intelligence Programs

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GIS in Geology

GIS in Meteorology

GIS in Oceanography

GIS in Astronomy

GIS in Environmental Science

About USC’s GIS Graduate Programs

Key Facts About Geospatial Information

What is geospatial science?

Geographic Information System

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Geospatial Intelligence and National Security: An Overview

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)

National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC)

Geospatial Platform

How Civil Service Agencies Use Geospatial Intelligence

Law Enforcement Agencies

Emergency Management Agencies

Natural Disasters

Public Health Emergencies

About USC’s GIS Graduate Programs