Workshop:
A Introductory Workshop on
Geographic Information Systems
for IS Educators

Daniel Farkas
Information Systems Department
dfarkas@pace.edu
Tel: 914 773-3723
Fax. 914 989-8604

Narayan Murthy
Computer Science Department

Pace University, NY
861 Bedford Road
Pleasantville, NY 10570
ABSTRACT
Information Systems traditionally involve the application of computing to the problems of organizations.  Geographic Information Systems are characterized by data, spatial objects, which have locations (e.g.  addresses, landmarks, geopolitical boundaries, etc.)  and data associated with them (e.g. demographic information, value, etc.). While many associate GIS systems with scientific data, emerging applications and research involves solving problems which  asks business related questions about geospatial information and applied in many situations including Customer Analysis, Market Analysis, Site Selection, etc.
This workshop will give a brief overview and demonstration of GIS concepts using the popular ESRI ARCView system.  Exercises will include a brief GIS analysis to reinforce the introductory concepts.
Outline:
1. IS vs. GIS: Spatial and non-spatial information
2. Building blocks
3. GIS Databases
4. GIS Data Sources
5. Collecting Data – Global Positioning (GPS)
6. Coordinates and Projection Systems
7. Spatial Analysis
8. GIS and the Web
9. GIS Analysis Exercises
Target Audience:  Information Systems educators and professionals. 
Biographical sketches of the presenters:
Daniel Farkas
Chair and Associate Professor, Information Systems, Pace University
As chair of the Information Systems department, Dan innovative in developing curriculum in Computer Security, Web Development and most recently Geographic Information Systems. Both he and Narayan have given ISECON workshops on TCP/IP and Javascript. Dan has been delivering professional seminars in Unix, Linux System Administration, Network and Network Administration to national audiences for over 20 years.
Narayan Murthy
Chair and Professor, Computer Science, Pace University
Narayan Murthy has been teaching computer science for more than 20 years.  Recently, he has developed interest in Internet technology and computer security.  He has been teaching these topics, including the very successful graduate and undergraduate tools based security course, for the last several years.  Most recently, Narayan has been looking at AJAX and the integration of web-based mapping services.