Maps to Apps - the digital revolution in map making

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have transformed the way we create and distribute maps, offering dramatic new opportunities never previously envisaged.  This lecture will review the benefits and limitations of traditional printed maps and demonstrate the basic operation of Geographic Information Systems.

Printed maps have long been a practical means of condensing geographic information into an accurate and accessible form. However, they cannot effectively deliver the mass of spatial digital data that is now being generated and made available on a daily basis. 

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have transformed the way we create and distribute maps, offering dramatic new opportunities never previously envisaged. When combined with the distribution power of the internet, accurate, up-to-date digital maps on a bewildering array of subjects can be rapidly built and made globally available at minimal cost.

This lecture will review the benefits and limitations of traditional printed maps and demonstrate the basic operation of Geographic Information Systems. It will illustrate how freely available geographic data can be combined to produce tailor-made modern digital maps. Finally, the potential role of artificial intelligence in future mapping endeavours will be explored. 

Christopher Rawlinson 

Chris has an Honours degree in Geography from the University of Newcastle, UK, an MSc degree in Photogrammetry and Surveying from University College London and a Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from Flinders University, South Australia. He has worked as a geography teacher in Papua New Guinea, as a geodetic surveyor in the Middle East and as a spatial information strategist in South Australia. 

Jennifer Krauss 

Jennifer is a Geography graduate from the University of Göttingen, Germany, with a strong focus on GIS and spatial analysis. She has practical experience working with tools such as ArcGIS Pro across planning and environmental projects and is confident using a range of GIS applications to support data analysis and mapping. Jennifer currently works as a Graduate Consultant at the Adelaide office of URPS Pty Ltd.