2025 SAG Award Winners

UC Santa Barbara Center for Spatial Studies and Data Science

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Project Goal

This guide establishes a framework to evolve the GIS curriculum. Based on input from across the GIS community, it offers materials for teaching GIS and GIScience using the most up-to-date technologies and teaching approaches. The Guide to the Geographic Approach emphasizes workflows, ethics, and cloud computing for applied problem solving.

Built using project-based learning, the guide integrates conceptual understanding and applied skills through case studies and hands-on activities. Developing a foundational skillset rooted in modern GIS will enable future professionals in any industry to apply geospatial thinking and analysis to solve new and existing problems.
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Business Problem Solved

The Guide to the Geographic Approach identifies the learning outcomes and skills needed by modern GIScience students and GIS users. Its core consists of modules that can be used to teach applied GIS using theoretical and practical activities. The modules train students to apply ethical workflows to answer pressing questions.

Technology Implemented

Guide to the Geographic Approach utilizes ArcGIS to create the teaching modules. These modules are a foundation on which to teach the core competencies, skills, and knowledge base for today's GIS professional.

Development Team Biography

Dr. Trisalyn Nelson: Project Co-lead, Center for Spatial Studies and Data Science Director, and the Jack and Laura Dangermond Endowed Chair and Professor in UCSB's Geography Department.

Dr. Peter Kedron: Project Co-lead, Associate Director of the Center for Spatial Studies and Data Science, and Professor in the Department of Geography at UCSB.

Dr. Amy Frazier: Core Team Member, Jack and Laura Dangermond Endowed Chair of Conservation Science and a Professor in UCSB's Geography Department.

Lily Heidger: Core Team Member and PhD student in UCSB's Geography Department.

Jiahua Chen: Core Team Member and PhD student in UCSB's Geography Department.

Aisha Jenkins: Ethical Lesson Lead, Adjunct Professor at Howard University, and Cofounder of Northstar of GIS.

Dr. Somayeh Dodge: Core Team Member, associate director of the Center for Spatial Studies and Data Science, associate professor in UCSB's Geography Department

Dr. Michael Goodchild: Core Team Member, Professor Emerit