GIS User Group Discussion Topics
This page is a collection of past discussion topics as well as proposals for future discussions. Please note that any topic is open to discussion at the monthly meetings, even if the group has brought it up before. GIS is a rich field and we can always go into more detail.
Past Topics
Summaries of meeting discussions will be posted here.
Possible Future Topics
Pedagogical
- Resources – software, hardware, data sets
- Methods
- Ideas
General GIS
- Projections
- Cartography (map-design & layout issues)
- Databases (what are they, how do they work)
Software-Specific
- ESRI products (ArcView, ArcCatalog, etc.)
- Google Earth, etc.
- Exporting maps to image files (JPG, EPS, PDF, etc.) for use in other software (MS Word, Powerpoint, etc.)
Data Issues
- Shapefiles (vectors) vs. Raster files (imagery)
- Sources for existing data (Census, topography, satellite photos, etc.)
- Creating/editing data sets
- Importing/exporting data
- Copyright issues
- Sharing data (within campus and beyond)
Hardware-Specific
- Windows vs. Macintosh
- GPS instruments
- Printing maps
Issues Specific to Academic Fields
- Resource allocation or mapping/data conventions unique to specific fields
- Library and curator issues
- IIT support issues
Campus Issues
- Software licensing
- Data set purchases/subscriptions
- Hardware support/development
- Community service (e.g. GPS base station transmitter, web-based data/documentation distribution)
