Articles by author: sjanzen

  • MDGL is Open!

    Tuesday, September 03, 2024 | By

    The Map, Data & GIS Library space features group seating and cozy spots with light streaming in from skylights.

    The Map, Data & GIS Library (MDGL) would like to welcome back the Brock community for the academic year 2024-2025! After being open By Appointment Only, we will return to our regular working hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The MDGL will remain closed for weekends, holidays and intercession.  Reading Week hours will be By Appointment Only.

    Email maplib@brocku.ca for more information.

    The MDGL offers study space, computers, knowledgeable and friendly staff to assist with finding and using our cartographic collections including maps, atlases, books, digital air photos and more! We look forward to serving you.

    Welcome back, Badgers!!!

    Tags: , ,
    Categories: Main, MDGL

  • Exam supports: Map, Data & GIS Library

    Tuesday, April 02, 2024 | By

    The Map, Data & GIS Library space features group seating and cozy spots with light streaming in from skylights.

    Looking for some quiet study space? The Map, Data & GIS Library is open 9-4 Monday to Friday and hosts a number of public PCs plus large tables for group study or comfy chairs for individual study. You do not need to reserve a desk or table and all are welcome to use our space!

    Coming soon…. an ‘unstudy’ table with puzzles, colouring pages, and origami to provide necessary distractions leading to reduced stress and healthy minds.

    Here’s how to find us. See you soon, in the MDGL! Mackenzie Chown Complex, C306.

    Tags: ,
    Categories: Main, MDGL

  • GIS scholarship opportunity

    Thursday, February 22, 2024 | By

    An ArcGIS created map showing the number of parks per municipality in Niagara

    Attention all Brock ArcGIS users! It’s time for the Annual Esri Scholarship Competition. Eligible students (current students including undergraduate to graduate with B+ Major average) are invited to submit a ~500 word Esri GIS Project Proposal with their resume to sjanzen@brocku.ca by April 1st 4:30 p.m. A nominee will be announced by April 15th with project deliverables due by June 1st. The deliverables for the successful candidate will include a poster and report in the form of an Esri StoryMap. Prizes include $1,000 cash reward, software access, books, conference passes and more!

    Esri is the industry standard for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) across all sectors. GIS is used at Brock in Health Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, History, Literature & Language, Political Science, Earth Sciences, Recreation and Leisure Studies and Geography/Tourism.

    More details: https://scholars.esri.ca/profile/?uid=Brock%20University
    Student FAQ: https://scholars.esri.ca/students/faq-students/

    Submissions and questions should be directed to Sharon Janzen, sjanzen@brocku.ca in the Map, Data & GIS Library, MC-C306

    Tags: , , , ,
    Categories: Main, MDGL

  • GIS Day Buzz

    Tuesday, October 31, 2023 | By

    Two maps of Port Weller East in St. Catharines showing land use changes from 2006 to 2020

    Wednesday, November 15th marks a special day in the geography world as we gear up to celebrate GIS! Geographic Information Systems (GIS) combines software, hardware, data and people to create, analyze and disseminate geospatial data and ideas about where and why things happen as they do. Join us this year to learn more about GIS and specifically ArcGIS, the industry standard for mapping technology. The Map, Data & GIS Library is hosting a variety of events including:

    Wednesday, November 15, 2023

    10-11:30 a.m. GIS for Faculty and Staff: A 90 minute workshop introducing attendees to the Esri site license and ArcGIS software options for research, teaching and administrative tasks. Registration recommended.

    12-1:15 p.m. Pizza & Cake in the MDGL: Join the Tourism and Geography Society (TAGS) for lunch in the MDGL where anyone can buy a slice of pizza ($$) and partake of the infamous GIS Day cake (free)!

    1:30-3:30 p.m. GIS for Brock Community: This 120 minute session will introduce students, faculty and staff to GIS with a hands-on component. Attendees should bring their own device to engage fully with the session. Registration recommended.

    Further to the Brock GIS Day festivities, interested parties can take advantage of the FREE online GIS Days Conference hosted by Western University Libraries. The conference runs from Nov. 13-16, 2023. Check out the schedule and register today!

    Brock representations at the GIS Days conference includes:

    Tuesday, Nov. 14, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Introduction to ArcGIS Online by Sharon Janzen

    Thursday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. HGIS Lightning talk by Rebecca Nickerson

    Questions? Contact maplib@brocku.ca (Map, Data & GIS Library, MC-C306)

    Tags: , , ,
    Categories: Main, MDGL

  • GIS Day is coming …

    Monday, October 30, 2023 | By

    It’s that time of year again when we start planning for GIS Day! November 15th will mark this eventful day for all users of GIS technologies. We will have presentations, contests and displays as well as tutorials, pizza ($$) and CAKE (FREE!). Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 15, 2023 and stay tuned for details.

    GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems and broadly represents the technology behind analyzing and creating map products. There are many departments using geospatial technologies for research and teaching at Brock University: Geography & Tourism Studies, Earth Sciences, Health Sciences, Political Sciences, History, Modern Literature & Languages, etc. If you haven’t tried giving a spatial context to your work, perhaps it’s time to explore the options available.

    Follow us on Instagram for up-to-date information.

     

    Tags: , ,
    Categories: Main, MDGL

  • Join in the hunt on International Geocaching Day

    Wednesday, August 09, 2023 | By

    The International Geocaching logo, International Geocaching Day badge, and photographs of local geocache hiding spots

    Have you ever wanted to go on a real-life treasure hunt, but never did because you thought it was only real in children’s stories and the movies? Well, get ready for adventure and exploring because geocaching is 21st century treasure hunting! Geocaching is a free outdoor activity that uses GPS technology to find the containers unsurprisingly called a geocache that have small treasures to trade, and a log book to sign.  

    To start, borrow a GPS device from the Map, Data & GIS Library, or download a geocaching app on your smartphone like Geocaching (Android, iPhone, and iPad), Cachly (iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch), or c:geo (Android), and input the coordinates for the geocache you want to find. There are two geocaches on Brock Campus – Welcome to Brock, a micro-cache, and Fin de Siècle, a multi-step cache. 

    Next, find the cache! Stay on the trail if there is one, and once you’re close, use your hands and eyes to finish the hunt. They can be well hidden so be creative while searching and while they are never buried, they are not always on the ground. When you find it, sign the logbook, take a treasure, and always leave another treasure of equal or greater value for the next geocachers. Take your trash out with you and leave the site better than you found it.  

    Join geocachers around the world on August 19, 2023 for the 12th annual celebration of International Geocaching Day! Go to www.geocaching.com for more information on geocaching and events. 

    Tags:
    Categories: Main, MDGL