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GISciences Centre Gets Special Achievement Award

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The Dalhousie University GISciences Centre is to be presented the 2012 ESRI Inc. Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award at the upcoming ESRI Inc. International Conference in San Diego. The award is given to user sites around the world to recognize outstanding work with GIS technology.

The Dal GISciences Centre is the only Canadian group awarded this year; they were also presented with the 2007 Award of Excellence, given by the President of ESRI Canada Alex Miller. The GISciences Centre is in select company as it was one of over 100,000 potential nominees. The Centre is being awarded the 2012 SAG based upon years of service and promotion of GIS, geography, and spatial analysis within the academic community at Dalhousie and beyond.

Founded in 2005, the GISciences Centre has provided access to data, software, training, courses, analysis, and field schools. The Director of the Centre, James Boxall, stated upon hearing the news of the award: “It really is about the staff and students who have made the Centre what it is. They are the basis for the recognition, and we are all honoured by this award.” Staff and students currently working with Boxall in the Centre are: Jennifer Strang, Ray Jahncke, Max Lapierre, Jennifer Charney and Jennifer Grek-Martin. Boxall also notes that the Centre has helped promote the growth of spatial learning at Dalhousie and collaboration amongst government, the private sector and other educational institutions. “The result of this has been that Dalhousie has created – in a very short time – the largest user community of GIS within higher education in Canada. This means more GIS-related work across faculties and disciplines, and more students and faculty exposed to using GIS in teaching and research. Yet we feel we have only begun!”

And this just in: Max Lapierre, GIS student intern, has just been awarded a $2500 prize from ESRI Canada for his continuing studies in the application of GIS for planning and facilities. Congratulations all around!

GIS Centre Lunchless Learn Series

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What is a ‘Lunch-less Learn’, you may ask? It’s a hands-on tutorial, held around lunchtime, open to all on campus–without the food!

This series is offered by the GIS Centre to help give people a taste of what GIS is and how it can be used. We are repeating sessions at different times and locations to accommodate as many people as possible.

Due to the high level of interest, we ask you to sign up by emailing gis@dal.ca


Intro – First Encounters of the GIS Kind
September 27
1:00 – 2:30pm
Killam Library Room G70

So You Want to Make a Map: Where and How to Find Data
October 6
noon – 2:00pm
Killam Library – G70

So You Want to Make a Map: Where and How to Find Data
October 11
noon – 2:00pm
Sexton Campus
C Building Room C318

GPS – Where on Earth Am I?
October 20
12:00-2:00pm
Killam Library Room G70 (some outside work)

How to Become a Raster Master
October 25
noon – 1:30pm
Sexton Campus
C Building Room C318

How to Become a Raster Master
November 1
1:00 – 2:30pm
Killam Library Room G70

Maps – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
November 8
12:00-1:30pm
Sexton Campus
C Building Room C318

First Encounters of the GIS Kind

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First Encounters of the GIS Kind: An Introduction to the Basics of Geographic Information Systems

11:30am – 1:00pm
Friday, September 16
Room G70, Killam Library

The GIS Centre is holding the first installment in their “Lunch-less Learn” series. What is a Lunch-less Learn, you may ask? It’s a hands-on tutorial, held around lunchtime, open to all–without the food!

This session is an introduction meant for people with little or no experience in GIS. The software we will be using is ArcGIS. This is a building block for our future Lunch-less Learn Series.

A GIS, or Geographic Information System, is “a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data relating to positions on earth’s surface.” In other words, it’s an easy and fun way to look at the world differently.

Due to a high level of interest, we ask that you contact the GIS Centre to reserve a space. Please email Jennifer Strang or Raymond Jahncke at gis@dal.ca

Please note: This session will be repeated at Sexton Campus on Sept. 19 at noon, and again at the Killam on Sept. 27 at 1 pm. Watch for upcoming announcements about this and other Lunch-less Learn topics!

Dal Maps/GIS Poster Display

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Aerial shot of Halifax Port 1969

Aerial shot of Halifax Port 1969

The Dalhousie Map Collection and GIS Centre are creating posters for display in the Killam lobby. The latest is one of a series of aerial photographs done in 1969 by Capital Air Surveys Ltd. for Nova Scotia Lands and Forests. These photos, taken from an elevation of 3200 feet (approximately 1km), cover the area to the west and north of the Halifax Harbour and Bedford Basin.


The images of the peninsula are available from the Map Collection in digital format at high resolution. Most of their aerial photos, including this entire series, can be examined in 3D using a stereopticon in the Map Collection room on the second floor of the Killam Library.


Just to put these images in context, in 1969:

  • you could still drive over the wall into the parade square at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site
  • the “new” bridge was still under construction, to be opened in 1970. The bridge doesn’t appear on the index map.
  • the Halifax Port was substantially smaller than it is today
  • there was a monastery where the Superstore stands on Quinpool Road (Monastery Lane!)
  • the Killam Library was under construction
  • there was little to nothing north of Bayer’s Road (to the west) and Duffus St. (to the east)
  • there was a large railyard where the car dealerships are now, north of Young St.

The Map Collection has posted just one of these images, but they have thousands of aerial photos, so watch the Killam lobby for more exciting posters over the summer!

Dal’s GIS Centre “Leads the Way”

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Did you know that Dalhousie has the largest GIS library facility in Canada? Located in the Killam Library, the GIS Centre “has become a model for other libraries around the country.” Read all about how they got there, what they do, and where they’re going in ArcNorthNews’ article Dalhousie Leads the Way in GIS Innovation.

Then join our GIS team at the Killam on Wednesday November 17 to celebrate international GIS Day!

Celebrate GIS Day With Us

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Wednesday November 17, 2010
Killam Library
9am – 2pm

Come and celebrate GIS Day with us! GIS Day is designed to raise awareness about Geography Information Systems (GIS) and Geography. Find out what GIS is, the many ways it can be used, and what is going on GIS-wise at Dalhousie. Dal’s own GIS Centre will be running introductory workshops, having live demos, and sharing cake and coffee.

9:00-10:30 Hands on Session: Introduction to ArcGIS
Room G70
The basics of ArcGIS. Learn how data is organized in GIS and how information can be extracted from it. This is a hands-on session meant for people with no experience in GIS. Space is limited so please register at gis@dal.ca

10:30-11:30 Cake and Coffee
Killam Library Lobby
Brought to you
Come enjoy a piece of cake and a cup of coffee, on us.

11:30am-1:45pm Hands on Session: Where and How to Find Data
Room G70
This session builds on the introduction to ArcGIS. It will provide information about where GIS data can be found and how you can access it. It focuses primarily on local datasets that are available on the internet. Space is limited so please register at gis@dal.ca

9am – 2pm GIS Demo Site
Killam Library Lobby
Have specific questions about GIS, what ‘s happening at Dal, or what courses are available? this is the place to come! Chat with us one-on-one.

GIS Centre Lunchless Learn Series

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Back by popular demand! Beginning September 22 the GIS Centre is holding its “Lunchless Learn” hands-on tutorials to give you an idea of what exactly a GIS (Geographic Information System) is, and how it can be used (hint: almost any way you can think of!).

Check out their flyer for the schedule and details, and then sign up for one or more sessions by emailing gis@dal.ca

Maps: What Makes Them Good, Bad or Ugly

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Maps: What Makes Them Good, Bad or Ugly
GIS Lunchless Learn Session
Friday November 6, 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Room G70, North Learning Commons, Killam Library

What is a “Lunch-less Learn,” you may ask? It’s a hands-on tutorial, held around lunchtime, open to all–without the food!

Due to a high level of interest, we ask that you contact the GIS Centre at gis@dal.ca to reserve a space.

PLEASE NOTE:
This is the fourth topic in a series. This session will be repeated November 10th at the Sexton Campus. You are not required to have attended the first session (First Encounters of the GIS Kind: An Introduction to the Basics of GIS) but basic GIS skills will be assumed.

How To Become a Raster Master

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The GIS Centre will be holding the next installment in our ‘Lunch-less Learn’ series:

How to Become a Raster Master

Friday October 23, from 1:30 – 3:00pm
Room G70, North Learning Commons
Killam Library (first floor)

The session will cover the basics of raster data model and introduce users to raster data analysis. This is the third topic in a series. This session will be repeated on October 27 on Sexton Campus at 12 noon. You are not required to have attended the first session (First Encounters of the GIS Kind: An Introduction to the Basics of GIS) but basic GIS skills will be assumed.

Due to a high level of interest, please contact the GIS Centre to reserve a space.

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