Post by Marlena Carrillo, Digital Initiatives Coordinator in the Digital Initiatives unit of the USF Libraries
Following USF Libraries’ incredible GIS Day 2024 event in November, we are thrilled to announce that the presentation recordings are available for viewing in Digital Commons. This annual event brought together students, faculty, and GIS enthusiasts to explore the latest advancements in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and their applications across various fields.
The first GIS Day was implemented by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) founder Jack Dangermond in 1999 with the intention of being a grassroots initiative that everyone can participate in to celebrate the achievements of GIS technology. Since then, GIS Day has become a worldwide celebration that takes place annually on the third Wednesday in November during Geography Awareness Week.
The 2024 ” explored how GIS technology has changed the way we understand, navigate, and shape our world. The guests of USF Libraries’ virtual celebration incorporated this theme by showcasing GIS-related projects that visualize, enhance, and reimagine the information field.
Some highlights from the event include Andy Huse and Stephanie Mackin’s research on the historical dwellings of Ybor City, Daniel Gessman’s strategic implementation of GIS in facilities management, and Amanda Boczar and Sydney Jordan’s exploration of how GIS made a digital coral reef collection more accessible and informative. Attendees got to hear about Christopher Kiahtipes’ perspective on the application of GIS in natural history, Karina Coffigny’s engaging enhancement of the Florida Digital Postcard Collection digital exhibit, and Denise Wright’s research on shoreline erosion using GIS to monitor and preserve cultural heritage sites. Finally, the day was concluded with Marlena Carrillo, Dahlia Thomas, and Sara Gonzalez’s virtual tour of Tampa’s iconic architecture using ArcGIS StoryMaps and a look at Benjamin Mittler and Christian Wells’ Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Atlas, an innovative GIS tool designed to support community revitalization efforts.
Those who were unable to attend or wish to revisit the sessions may access them here. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this event a success. We look forward to seeing you at our future events!
References
GIS Day | November 19, 2025. (n.d.). https://www.gisday.com/en-us/overview
History of GIS | Timeline of the development of GIS. (n.d.). https://www.esri.com/en-us/what-is-gis/history-of-gis