A geographic information system (GIS) is comprised of computer hardware, software, data, and people to collect, organize, and analyze data spatially in a map. Each collection of data is stored in a table and displayed as a graphic layer. These layers can be viewed individually or in relation to other layers.

Click here to see an example of the layers.

CPS currently uses GIS to assist with a variety of tasks: school site selection, tracking development, attendance zone adjustments, analyzing student demographics, and creating bus routes. GIS was also used to define which homes triennial census workers needed to visit in 2008. At the Map Center, you can see the following two types of GIS applications: (1) the attendance zone maps are static maps generated from GIS, and (2) the address lookup tool is an interactive map site that allows users to see where their residential address and assigned schools are geographically located.

Snapshot of current bus runs for Cedar Road Elementary School 2005-06

Wall-size map of the attendance zone for Carver Intermediate School

Geospatial Technology Course




If you are interested in learning more about GIS, below are some additional websites for you to explore.

www.gis.esri.com/library/userconf/educ05/papers/pap2269.pdf
This provides more information about the Geospatial Technology Contest at Technosphere.

www.esri.com
ESRI makes the software that CPS uses for GIS.

www.gis.com
ESRI sponsors this Intro to GIS site.

www.esri.com/getting_started/education/
This is the education link for ESRI.

www.cpschools.com/departments/planning/mapcenter
This is the Chesapeake Public Schools Map Center web page.

www.earth.google.com
Google now has software you can download  to explore aerial and satellite imagery.

www.geocomm.com
The GeoCommunity website is a source for spatial news, jobs, bid information, and data.