GIS Education & Resources

Internet GIS at UWM

Internet GIS is a cutting edge technology to distribute, process and display GIS data on the World Wide Web across the Internet. Internet GIS is expected to revolutionize public participation in planning. Internet GIS allows anyone with a web access to use GIS to learn about the location of activities and land uses. It allows users to interact with GIS data and maps on the Web without owning GIS software programs. For example, as a local community works on revising its master plan, an Internet GIS would allow local citizens to explore the location of proposed land uses in relation to other characteristics of the landscape, including natural characteristics, such as wetlands, or man-made characteristics, such as the presence of highways or industrial areas. It offers an effective tool for planners, governmental agencies and organizations, and companies to communicate and interact with the publics, officials and customers.

The department of Urban Planning at UWM have taken the initiative to incorporate Internet GIS in its curriculum since 1997. It have been offering a new course "Advanced Techniques in GIS" devoted specifically to Internet GIS. It also offers a short professional development course on the subject. The students gains hands-on experience on building Internet GIS sites from the ground up. The course covers basic programming skills in Active Server Pages, HTML, Javascript, and Web design; ArcXML & ArcMAP; and network architecture using Microsoft Internet Information Server and newest ESRI's ArcIMS Server.

The faculty are actively involving in research in Internet GIS. Dr. Peng has been working on several Internet GIS projects, including Online Transit Trip Planning Systems Internet GIS for Public Participation. Dr. Peng was invited by a publisher and is busy working on writing a book on Internet GIS. Dr Peng was also invited to be a work instructor on Internet GIS in conferences nationwide.