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Client Projects

Geographic Information Systems


California Water Boards

From 2006 to 2009, UC Davis Extension presented 12 two-day courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to more than 250 State and Regional Water Board staff.

The need: GIS is a complex technology with a steep learning curve that allows Water Board staff to manage spatially distributed data more effectively. Staff across all program areas needed training in using desktop GIS software (ArcGIS) to display and analyze monitoring data for groundwater and surface water.

The solution: UC Davis Extension developed a course, led by a recognized GIS expert, that emphasized hands-on practice with the current GIS ArcView software. Attendees learned terms and concepts, examined data sources, and discussed the design and policy decisions that must be considered before implementing a GIS project.

Meet the instructors: Karen Beardsley, Ph.D., GISP, serves as the associate director of the Information Center for the Environment, UC Davis. She has more than 20 years of experience working with GIS in the management of natural resources, land use and environmental information.