Workshops | AAG Annual Meeting

AAG Workshops 2016

Workshops are currently under development for the 2017 Annual Meeting in Boston. For an idea of the variety of opportunities typically available, a list of workshops from the 2016 Annual Meeting in San Francisco can be found below.

Learn more about organizing a workshop at AAG 2017

MONDAY, MARCH 28

WS #0-1 Public Participation Mapping Methods (PPGIS, PGIS, VGI) for Environmental and Urban Planning
Monday, March 28, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Organizer: Greg Brown (University of Queensland) & Marketta Kytta (Aalto University)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $31.00
Room: Union Square 8

Workshop participants will learn the tools, techniques, and approaches being implemented globally to map and understand human/place relationships using geospatial technologies. This workshop will examine the past, the present, and the future of participatory mapping methods (PPGIS/PGIS/VGI) for environmental and urban planning. Topics to be covered in the workshop include: 1) principles of effective public participation, 2) selection of spatial attributes for use in PPGIS/PGIS/VGI, 3) methods and tradeoffs for spatial data collection systems and sampling alternatives, 4) comparison of VGI vs. PPGIS/PGIS systems, 5) spatial planning decision-support systems based on PPGIS, 6) spatial analysis methods for PPGIS data, 7) relationships between place-based values and physical landscapes, and 8) social and institutional barriers to the use and adoption of participatory mapping methods.

TUESDAY, MARCH 29

WS #1-1 High Speed Rail in California: Progress and Prospect
Tuesday, March 29, 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Organizers: Andrew Goetz (University of Denver) & Karen Philbrick (Mineta Transportation Institute)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $10.00
Room: Union Square 8

After voters approved initial funding in 2008, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has moved forward with a plan to provide high-speed rail service by 2029 between San Francisco and the Los Angeles basin in under three hours at speeds capable of over 200 miles per hour. This workshop will explore in detail the plan to build the nation's first truly high-speed rail line, the progress that has been achieved thus far, and the major challenges that remain. Representatives from the CHSRA, local planning officials, and academic experts will provide a comprehensive examination of high-speed rail in California.

WS #1-2 Writing Successfully for the Journal of Geography in Higher Education (JGHE)
Tuesday, March 29, 4:40 p.m. – 6:20 p.m.
Organizers: Derek France (University of Chester) & Bob Bednarz (Texas A&M University)
Capacity: 25
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 9
Sponsored by Journal of Geography in Higher Education & Taylor Francis Routledge, AAG Jobs and Careers Theme

After discussing the mission of the Journal of Geography in Higher Education (JGHE), the organizers will explain the submission, review, and publication processes. Topics will include the nature of material appropriate for submission, the types and level of evidence necessary to support findings, the recommended length of manuscripts, advice about writing for an international readership, and JGHE's citation index. Prospective authors will be encouraged to interact with panelists through an interactive paper review session and to discuss issues specific to manuscripts they are planning or writing

WS #1-3 Networking: Promoting Yourself by Making Connections that Count
Tuesday, March 29, 12:40 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Organizers: Niem Huynh (AAG) & Angela Rogers (Penn State University)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Yosemite B
Sponsored by AAG Jobs and Careers Theme

This workshop features the art of networking with a focus on how to develop an effective and memorable “elevator pitch,” and what this promotional sound bite about yourself sounds like to prospective employers in different scenarios. The facilitators will guide participants through an interactive workshop to develop and practice your networking skills on how to: creatively introduce yourself, develop and deliver a dynamic “elevator pitch,” efficiently “work” a room to make connections with key people, and learn questions to ask to keep conversations moving. The activities will be followed by a debriefing and time for Q&A.

WS #1-4 Preparing Geography Students for the 21st Century Workforce
Tuesday, March 29, 2:40 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.
Organizers: Niem Huynh (AAG) & Michael Solem (AAG)
Leader: Joseph Kerski (Esri)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Yosemite B
Sponsored by Geography Education Specialty Group, AAG Jobs and Careers Theme

Despite rapidly evolving and expanding employment opportunities, many students are unfamiliar with the numerous career paths for which a degree in geography can prepare them. Using the recent AAG publication Practicing Geography: Careers for Enhancing Society and the Environment (Pearson 2013) as a resource, the workshop facilitators -- who are contributing authors to the book -- will introduce participants to a series of classroom activities that have been designed to raise students' awareness of employment prospects for geographers and to help them recognize and articulate the value of their geography training to potential employers. The participants will then break into small groups to brainstorm ideas for adapting these exercises to the specific needs of students at their grade level and institution type. This workshop is suitable for educators at all grade levels and career stages.

WS #1-5 Esri’s Story Maps: A New Medium for Geography-Based Storytelling
Tuesday, March 29, 1:20 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Organizers: Astrid Ng (Esri) & Angela Lee (Esri)
Leaders: Joseph Kerski (Esri) & Allen Carroll (Esri)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: B

Explore best practices on communicating in today's web mapping environment, and creating your own multimedia stories utilizing Esri’s storytelling web apps. Audience, goals, mobile devices, symbology, classification methods, and other considerations and skills will be demonstrated. Hands-on work with Esri's powerful and easy-to-use Story Maps platform will include how to incorporate various types of multimedia, and how to share your work with selected audiences. We’ll focus on how faculty and students can author story maps, and how to use Story Maps as communication and assessment tools in your instruction. Bring your own laptop if you wish to do hands-on work.

WS #1-6 Compelling Cartography with ArcGIS
Tuesday, March 29, 2:40 p.m. –4:40 p.m.
Organizers: Astrid Ng (Esri) & Angela Lee (Esri)
Leader: Ken Field (Esri)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 8

This workshop will showcase a range of techniques that take your map-making beyond the defaults. We’ll illustrate how you can build and style custom basemaps for use with your online maps and explore a range of mapping techniques including flow maps, pictorial symbols and cartograms. We’ll also explore how you can create artistic maps with beautiful hillshades, different terrain representation and 3D. We’ll show how to take advantage of new and powerful cartographic features in ArcGIS Pro, where to download some great free cartographic tools and how to begin to think creatively to create beautiful and compelling maps.

WS #1-7 Hands-on Workshop for Using the Free Hybrid Spatiotemporal Cloud Services Provided by the NSF Spatiotemporal Innovation Center
Tuesday, March 29, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Organizer: Chaowei Yang (George Mason University)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 9

Cloud computing service is becoming the normal for providing computing support and cyberinfrastructure for scientific research and engineering development. To leverage this evolution for geographers, the NSF spatiotemporal innovation center built a 500-node private cloud services in conjunction with the Amazon public cloud resources. We will introduce how to use the cloud resources to conduct research in the geography domain and $1500 worth of computing resources will be allocated for each participant. Participant is required to bring your own laptop and have knowledge about how to use the Internet, SSH, and conceptual knowledge of cloud services.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30

WS #2-1 Oral History, Radical Mapping and Direct Action. The Anti-Eviction Mapping Project Workshop
Wednesday, March 30, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Organizers: Florian Opillard (Anti-Eviction Mapping Project) & Erin Mcelroy (Anti-Eviction Mapping Project)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 9

In this workshop, members of the Anti-Eviction Mapping Project will describe the oral history project and the processes and frameworks that have been used in organizing against displacement in San Francisco. The goal of the workshop is to pair oral histories with digital maps and direct actions that are collectively constructed in the struggle against gentrification. We see this workshop as a tool to engage more voices, and to share knowledge and skills, so that more people can become involved in collecting stories and creating maps through a participatory approach and mutual aid model.

WS #2-2 Incorporating ArcGIS Pro into your Curriculum: Lessons Learned
Wednesday, March 30, 10:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Organizers: Astrid Ng (Esri) & Angela Lee (Esri)
Leader: Brendan O’Neill (Esri)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 8

Learn from our experience of using Esri’s newest desktop application in the classroom. This workshop will explain what to prepare for and what to get excited about when implementing ArcGIS Pro in your curriculum.

WS #2-3 Esri’s Story Maps: A New Medium for Geography-Based Storytelling
Wednesday, March 30, 12:40 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Organizers: Astrid Ng (Esri) & Angela Lee (Esri)
Leaders: Joseph Kerski (Esri) & Allen Carroll (Esri)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 8

WS #2-4 Teaching Web GIS – Lab Design
Wednesday, March 30, 3:20 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Organizers: Astrid Ng (Esri) & Angela Lee (Esri)
Leaders: Pinde Fu (Esri)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 8

Want to teach yourself or your students Web GIS? Challenged by the rapidly advancing and expanding technologies? This workshop will explain and demonstrate the 10 chapters/labs in Esri's 2nd edition of Getting to Know Web GIS book, providing you a comprehensive and up-to-date view of ArcGIS technologies on the cloud, server, browser, and mobile platforms. In this workshop, you’ll build web apps using the ArcGIS platform. You’ll also learn about mobile GIS, real-time GIS, and the new generation ArcGIS API for JavaScript.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31

WS #3-1 Bringing GeoCapabilities to Geography in Higher Education
Thursday, March 31, 10:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Organizers: Michael Solem (AAG) & Karl Donert (EUROGEO)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Golden Gate 3

This workshop will introduce the GeoCapabilities concept and approach to geography education. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on the activities and outcomes of the GeoCapabilities Project (http://www.geocapabilities.org) and consider how a Capabilities approach, involving Powerful Disciplinary Knowledge, Curriculum Making and Leadership Perspectives can be used to enhance student engagement in higher education, enhance geographical thinking and improve the quality and outcome of higher education courses in disruptive times.

WS #3-2 Population and Environmental Data: The TerraPop Suite for Discovery, Exploration & Integration
Thursday, March 31, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Organizer: Tracy Kugler (University of Minnesota)
Leaders: Tracy Kugler (Minnesota Population Center) & David Haynes (Minnesota Population Center)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 9

This workshop will introduce participants to the TerraPop collection of population and environmental data and a suite of tools for discovering, exploring, and integrating data across the collection. The collection includes census microdata and/or aggregate data for over 160 countries as well as raster data on land cover, land use, and climate. The primary data access application, now with a completely redesigned interface, allows users to integrate selected data from across the collection into a customized dataset. Other tools include TerraClip, which provides country-level extracts from global rasters, and TerraScope, which facilitates interactive exploration of data in the collection.

WS #3-3 Career Strategy Series #2: Resume and Cover Letter Writing
Thursday, March 31, 3:20 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Organizer: Niem Huynh (AAG)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Yosemite A
Sponsored by AAG Jobs and Careers Theme

This workshop provides an overview of CV & Cover Letter writing strategies with focus for non-academic applications. The workshop is founded on activities to illustrate key points and highlight two areas, 1) how to condense an academic CV to a 1 page resume, and 2) how to emphasize transferable skills in application documents. Please bring one copy of your CV and cover letter for the exercise.

WS #3-4 The GISP and Professionalism from a Student Perspective
Thursday, March 31, 3:20 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Organizer: Bill Hodge (GISCI)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Yosemite B
Sponsored by AAG Jobs and Careers Theme

This presentation will provide geospatial students exposure to professionalism as a concept in their career. It will provide several ways a student can start to assume the mantle of professionalism and give them an idea of how a GISP can help them in their career.

WS #3-5 Manage Your ArcGIS Online Organization
Thursday, March 31, 10:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Organizers: Astrid Ng (Esri) & Angela Lee (Esri)
Leader: Brendan O’Neill (Esri)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 8

In this workshop we will cover best practices when implementing ArcGIS Online in educational settings. Discussion topics will include credits, roles, collaboration, as well as user and content management. We will focus on keeping up with changes between semesters, years, and what to do when your students graduate.

WS #3-6 Simple Ways to do More with your Data using Spatial Statistics
Thursday, March 31, 1:20 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Organizers: Astrid Ng (Esri) & Angela Lee (Esri)
Leader: Lauren Bennett (Esri)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 8

This overview will equip you with the basic knowledge necessary to explore data in new and meaningful ways. Stepping through the Spatial Statistics tools one by one, we’ll provide a variety of examples to demonstrate the range of questions each tool can address. Concepts covered will include: describing the shape and spatial distribution of data, detecting hot spots and spatial outliers, and mining spatial data to discover unexpected correlations and patterns. Whether you’re new to Spatial Statistics or an experienced user, come learn about new tools and applications, and see how others benefit from statistical analysis of their spatial data.

WS #3-7 Spatial Analysis with ArcGIS Online
Thursday, March 31, 3:20 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Organizers: Astrid Ng (Esri) & Angela Lee (Esri)
Leader: Linda Beale (Esri)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 8

This workshop will demonstrate the spatial analysis capabilities available in ArcGIS Online and Portal showing a number of different examples and techniques. ArcGIS Online tools are designed to provide an intuitive, user-friendly experience, offering access to powerful analytics without requiring years of experience. This workshop will start by showing how to load and utilize available data and will advance through how to turn your questions into answers by finding the right tools and understanding how they work. With the availability of GIS tools and data in ArcGIS Online, getting going with spatial analysis has never been easier.

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

WS #4-1 Walking the Tightrope: Making Ideas on Power and Resilience Practical for Women’s Careers in Geography
Friday, April 1, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Organizers: Patricia Solis (Texas Tech University) & Libby Wentz (Arizona State University)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Yosemite A
Sponsored by AAG Jobs and Careers Theme

Join us for the third annual workshop in a series of themes addressing career advancement and success for women in Geography. The basis of this year’s workshop is to facilitate discussion among men and women to find practical ways to use ideas about power and resilience to not only overcome but also thrive in their careers, whether in academic and nonacademic settings. We aim to explore how to think about promoting a career in favorable or less than ideal institutional contexts while getting beyond setbacks. This year’s discussions and activities include:

Relating to the concept of power
Power and language
Resilience and overcoming setbacks
Surviving and thriving

WS #4-2 Create Web Maps and Apps with Your Work
Friday, April 1, 3:20 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Organizer: Daniel McGlone (Azavea)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $38.00
Room: Yosemite A
Sponsored by AAG Jobs and Careers Theme

You've done the work in desktop GIS, but now you want to get it online. This workshop will give an overview of interactive mapping platforms like CartoDB, Mapbox and Leaflet. Then, we'll give a hands-on demonstration of how to import data into CartoDB and make an amazing interactive map and share it with the public.

WS #4-3 Career Strategy Series #3: Interviewing for Employment
Friday, April 1, 3:20 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Organizer: Niem Huynh (AAG)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Yosemite B
Sponsored by AAG Jobs and Careers Theme

You’ve been invited for a job interview! How do you prepare and how should you say it? This interactive workshop brings together theory and practice to prepare you for your next interview. The workshop builds on activities and group work to highlight three areas of a strong interview, 1) content of response 2) body language and voice and 3) interview preparation.

WS #4-4 Geo Apps: A New Era of Web Maps
Friday, April 1, 10:00 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.
Organizer: Astrid Ng (Esri) & Angela Lee (Esri)
Leader: Brendan O’Neill (Esri)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 8

GIS is moving into the cloud, and you need to too. In this workshop you will learn to create powerful, engaging, and easily accessible web and mobile apps. Bring your data to life and empower people to answer questions and explore places in new ways.

WS #4-5 Spatial Data Mining: A Deep Dive into Cluster Analysis
Friday, April 1, 1:20 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Organizer: Astrid Ng (Esri) & Angela Lee (Esri)
Leader: Lauren Bennett (Esri)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $0
Room: Union Square 8

Whenever we look at a map, we naturally organize, group, differentiate, and cluster what we see to help us make sense of it. This session will explore four Spatial Statistics techniques designed to do just that: Hot Spot Analysis, Cluster and Outlier Analysis, Grouping Analysis, Similarity Search, and the new Space Time Pattern Mining tools. Through discussions and demonstrations we will learn how to identify significant patterns in our data. We will explore the different questions that each tool can answer, best practices for running the tools, and strategies for interpreting and sharing results.

WS #4-6 Land Change Analysis
Friday, April 1, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Organizers: Robert Gilmore Pontius Jr. (Clark University)
Capacity: 30
Cost/person: $35
Room: Union Square 9

This workshop includes lecture, discussion and hands-on training concerning GIS-based measurement and simulation of land change. Concepts include: quantity difference, allocation difference, calibration, extrapolation, validation, total operating characteristic and Intensity Analysis (https://sites.google.com/site/intensityanalysis/). Typical participants range from graduate students to experienced GIS professionals. Prior experience with GIS is not necessary. Participants should bring their computers on which they have loaded free materials from www.clarku.edu/~rpontius. Participants are entitled to a 50% discount on a general, academic, or student license of TerrSet (www.clarklabs.org). Clark University Professor Robert Gilmore Pontius Jr has presented this workshop dozens of times in 16 countries (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-wcuY9zmF4&feature=youtu.be).