Introduction to GIS

Note: Bring your laptop and cell phone!!
Class Description: Introduction to GIS

This four-hour introductory course provides a hands-on foundation in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a powerful technology used to visualize, analyze, and interpret location-based data across various professional fields like urban planning, emergency services, and environmental management. Designed specifically for beginners, the session demonstrates how to move beyond basic map pins by creating detailed data layers that capture precise infrastructure attributes, such as tracking local road conditions, utilities, and public facilities. Utilizing the open-source MapViewer program via the New Mexico 911 GIS Hub and the ArcGIS Field Maps mobile application, participants will learn how to plot precise coordinate points and lines, build customizable data tables, attach field photographs, and seamlessly sync mobile data back to a desktop environment. By the end of the tutorial, students will know how to extract open-source GIS data from extensive federal repositories and export a presentation-ready PDF map complete with a professional legend, scale bar, and north arrow—empowering them with the spatial analysis skills necessary to identify service gaps and drive informed decision-making in their communities.