Cornellians Explore Giant Map of New York State in Celebration of 20th GIS Day

On Tuesday, Cornellians in Martha Van Rensselaer Hall literally walked all over New York State — shedding their shoes to explore the 15’-by-20’ fabric map that covered the floor of the atrium. The giant map was only the beginning of Cornell Mapping Society’s celebration of the 20th International Geographic Information Systems Day. From using Google Maps to find a restaurant to studying the effects of poverty in the boroughs of New York City, mapping allows regular people and scientists to understand and influence the world around us— and many Cornell researchers are taking advantage of it. To mark the 20th International Geographic Information Systems Day, Cornell’s Mapping Society hosted a slew of events to celebrate. “GIS Day is a chance for people to share with the public but also a chance to share with your professional colleagues that you wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to,” Prof. Diana Sinton, soil and crop sciences, MSC’s faculty advisor, said.