3
Who Uses Geospatial Technology?
FIGURE 1.1 Examples of
geospatial technology in
action on the job. (Source:
(a) AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee
(b) AP Photo/The Daily Press/
Allison Williams (c) AP Photo/
Gordon Hamilton/University
of Maine (d) Bob Nichols/
USDA NRCS (e) AP Photo/U.S.
Geological Survey, Dr. Dan
Dzurisin (F) Justin Sullivan/
Getty Images)
Geospatial technology is being used in a variety of
different applications in numerous different fields
today. For a deeper look at some of these applications, open your Web browser and go to http://www.
esri.com/industries.html, this is part of the Esri
company’s Website (we’ll discuss more about Esri in
Chapter 5, but the short version is that they’re the
market leader in GIS). This Website lists dozens of
different fields that are using geospatial technology
and describes how GIS (and Esri products) are being
utilized in them. Examine a few of them that are connected to fields of interest of yours. For instance, if
your interest is in criminal justice, examine some of
the “Public Safety” applications. If you’re involved in
public or community health, examine some of the
“Health and Human Services” applications, then describe how GIS is being utilized in some real-world,
on-the-job applications.
Hands-on Application 1.1
Industries Using Geospatial Technology