The City of Brighton’s Geographic Information System (GIS) team will hold an event in honor of GIS Day on Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the City Council chambers at City Hall (500 S. 4th Avenue). GIS Day is a worldwide event that celebrates the technology of Geographic Information Systems. This event is open to the public and city employees and will feature “What Is GIS?” presentations, a small map gallery displaying some of the team’s maps, cookies, and GIS Day pin giveaways. The GIS team will also be available to answer more specific GIS questions for city employees. 

 

Brighton City Council is also expected to honor GIS Day during its Nov. 19 meeting with a proclamation that recognizes how the understanding, use and application of geospatial technology is crucial to operating our infrastructure, sustaining our natural resources, and stimulating economic growth benefitting the welfare of the general public throughout Colorado. 

 

American political activist Ralph Nader originally inspired GIS Day as a day for geography awareness. The first-ever GIS Day was held on Nov. 19, 1999, during Geography Awareness Week from Nov. 14-20. But it was the National Geographic Society, Association of American Geographers (AAG), and Esri who really put the day into action. More specifically, the National Geographic Society has organized Geography Awareness Week each November since 1987. Since then, within that week of geo-literacy, GIS Day typically occurs.