Leslie Pelch, Outreach Director for Vermont Center for Geographic Information, outlines the benefits and tools for data visualization at 7th Annual Media Maven Luncheon hosted by CCTV and Common Good VT.

1. Visualize
Data With
Maps
Leslie Pelch
VT Center for Geographic
Information
2012

2. Cathedral Square Housing

4. VT Clean Energy Dev. Fund
Projects

6. Modern Computer Mapping
Uses Software and Geospatial
Databases
• How is map information translated into digital
form and read by a computer? The geographic
information system (GIS) must be able to store
information about:
– The geometry: the shape and location of the
objects
– The attributes: the descriptive information
known about the objects, normally displayed
on a map through symbology and labels.

7. Geometry and Attributes

8. What Tools Are Available to Help
YOU Map?
• Interactive Mapping Web Sites
– Google Maps etc.
– ArcGIS Online
• Free GIS Software like QGIS (Quantum GIS – qgis.org)
• Software with a cost like ArcGIS (esri.com)
• Specialized Software designed for your use case or field

9. What Training is Available to Help
YOU Map?
• VCGI Training
– Intro to GIS and GPS in the summer
– Webinars
• UNH Training (http://extension.unh.edu/GISGPS/)
– Some offered in VT (Like Intro to ArcGIS 10)
– Many more offered in NH, including border towns
• College/University Classes
– UVM
– Lyndon State
– Middlebury
– Green Mountain College
• Online classes (esri.com)
• ESRI Training (esri.com or occasionally through VCGI)

10. What Resources Are Available to
Help YOU Map?
• VCGI
– Free, public data (data warehouse)
– Free interactive mapping viewer (map center)
– Free advice (802-882-3002)
– Free Consultants list (community
resources/publications)
– Fee for service help with request for proposals (RFPs)
and grant applications (tech specs) (802-882-3003)

11. What Resources Are Available to
Help YOU Map?
• Regional Planning Commissions (vapda.org) – VCGI
has page with links, names, phone numbers!
• Academics – find someone doing or interested in doing
the mapping for your project – Interns (soon to be a page
at the VCGI Web site)!
• Map Together - The MapTogether project provides free
map-related training and tools for community and nonprofit
groups around the world. http://maptogether.org/
• GIS Consultants ($) – VCGI Maintains a list

12. Where to start?
• Connect with the VT GIS/Mapping Community!
– VGIS-L: An Email Listserv
– Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Linked In
– Attend Roundtables (conferences)

13. Contact Information
• Leslie Pelch, Outreach Coordinator
• David Brotzman, Executive Director
• VCGI
• 882-3002
• Lesliep@vcgi.org
• www.vcgi.org