GIS Day is an annual commemoration celebrated annually on the second Wednesday of November. In 2023, it will be observed on November 8. Geography is one of the important things that matter to everyone in everyday life. The Geographic Information System (GIS) can link the maps digitally to information. It enables us to visualize and understand patterns and their relationship. GIS can capture, display, and analyze location data and thus help in making powerful decisions. GIS Day celebrates both the technology of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the many ways in which software users analyze and solve problems.

“The application of GIS is limited only by the imagination of those who use it.” – Jack Dangermond

History of GIS Day

GIS Day has been celebrated since the year 1999. Ralph Nader was the person who is credited with the creation of the Day. The Day was first held on November 19, 1999, by the National Geographic Society (NGS), the Association of American Geographers (AAG), along the ESRI. Since then every third Wednesday of November is celebrated as this Day. Ralph Nader has considered that this celebration Day will be a good initiative for people to learn about geography and its applications or uses. GIS is a computer-aided tool and services that will capture, store, check, and display information related to the positions on Earth’s surface. It is an information system that will integrate, store, edit, analyze, share, and display geographic information.

GIS Day

The day is created to celebrate the GIS with everyone and showcase its uses. The celebration also discovers and explores the benefits of the Geographic Information System and builds and nurtures the community. The Day brings the universities, schools, government agencies, non-profits, and professionals together to build the knowledge of Geographic Information Systems in their communities and thereby create an understanding of the world we live in. It helps in understanding the planet in a better way spatially. The principal sponsor of the Day includes the National Geographic Society, University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS),  Association of American Geographers (AAG), United States Geological Survey, Library of Congress, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, and ESRI.

Other Celebrations on November 8

November 8 is also celebrated as

How to Celebrate GIS Day

Get to learn more about the Geographic Information System, its applications, and its uses. You can participate in local celebrations to find and explore the benefits of the Geographic Information System. Educate children in the school by conducting events and activities with GIS like Geocaching. Discuss with them about the Geographic Information System, and its applications through presentations and make them understand better about this concept. Share your celebration on social media using the hashtag #GISDay.

Thank you for reading the post. You can celebrate every day with Happydays365.org and Happy GIS Day 2023.