ASU GIS Day
Home
Join the global celebration of GIS Day and discover how geographic information systems (GIS) help us better understand our communities and the world.
Arizona State University's GIS Day brings together students, educators, researchers, professionals and community partners to explore the impact of mapping, geographic data and spatial technology.
Hosted by ASU's School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Geospatial Research and Solutions and Maricopa County, the event offers an opportunity to explore the power of GIS in action. We invite you to connect, learn and celebrate the power of place through presentations, vendors and drone demonstrations!
GIS Day 2026 Event & Schedule
Celebrate GIS Day 2026 at ASU!
Vendors | Presentations | Drones
🗓️ Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026
⏰ 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
📍 Tempe campus, Sun Devil Fitness Center, Gold Gym 400 E Apache Blvd, Tempe AZ 85281
Join the global celebration and discover how GIS shapes communities and the world.
Vendors
Meet GIS professionals and organizations showcasing mapping technology, GIS software, public sector application and career opportunities.
- ASU FDM and B&F Administrative GIS
- ASU Map and Geospatial Hub
- ASU School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning
- City of Glendale, AZ
- City of Mesa - Water Resources
- City of Scottsdale
- City of Surprise
- City of Tempe
- Desert Botanical Garden
- Entellus, Inc.
- GIS Chat Podcast
- Intuitive Machines
- Maricopa County GIS
- Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
- Salt River Project (SRP)
- Sanborn Map Company
- Ten Across
Presentations
Join ASU students showcasing research in spatial analysis, environmental studies, urban development and data visualization.
Details TBA
Drone Demonstrations
Learn how drone technology supports GIS through aerial mapping, data collection, 3D modeling and remote sensing.
Details TBA
Map Competition
2026 ASU GIS Day Student Map Competition
America’s 250th: Mapping America’s Historic Changing Landscape
We challenge you to pick a location, find something that has changed and tell a story.
About
Over the past 250 years, America has evolved—from the way people live to how communities and landscapes have transformed. This competition invites you to explore a topic that interests you, create a map and share a story with others.
Your map can explore population and community changes, urban development, infrastructure, historical change, environmental change and more.
Timeline
Competition Opens
Sept. 18, 2026
Submission Deadline
Nov. 11, 2026
Winners Announced
Nov. 17, 2026
GIS Day
Nov. 18, 2026
We challenge you to pick a location, find something that has changed and tell a story.
- Pick a Topic: Choose something you are genuinely curious about. A strong question can lead to a stronger map. Get Your Data: Use existing datasets, combine multiple sources or build your own. Be sure to use reliable data sources and Include citations.
- Build Your Map: Use the GIS software or Map platform you are most comfortable with. ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, QGIS and Google Earth are all options.
- Follow the Theme - America’s 250th: Map America’s historic changing landscape at the center of your idea. Look for creative ways to show how places, people, communities or landscapes have changed over time. Let history inspire your design, typography, colors, symbols and visual style.
- Tell the Story: Your map should make the change clear at a glance. Focus on good design, a clear message and readability for a general audience.
Not sure where to start?
Here are a few directions to explore. Mix and match ideas, follow your curiosity, or take your map in a completely unexpected direction. Sometimes the wildest idea makes the most interesting map.
Communities in Motion
- Population growth
- Community development
- Demographic shifts
Try this: Map where your area’s population grew the most over the last decade, then dig into who is driving that growth. Retirees? Young families? College graduates chasing new jobs? The age group behind the growth is only half the story.
Built to Grow
- Urban expansion
- Transportation development
- Infrastructure growth
Try this: Track how far you would have had to drive for a Starbucks in 1996 compared with today. Or map a new light rail or freeway line and explore what development followed.
Land & Legacy
- Historical change
- Environmental change
- Land use change
Try this: Map places that have disappeared from your community—malls, drive-ins, movie theaters, or other familiar landmarks—and explore what replaced them. You could even look at how the rise and fall of local businesses, such as Salad and Go, reflects larger changes in how and where people live, work, and eat.
100 Points Total (25 Points Each)
- Clear Communication: Someone unfamiliar with your topic should be able to understand your map within a few seconds without needing a caption to explain what they are seeing.
- Effective Cartography: Demonstrate thoughtful choices in layout, symbols and color. Your legend should make sense on its own rather than relying on software defaults. Maps must be in their finished state upon submission.
- Creativity & Theme: Your map should draw inspiration from America’s 250-year history. Design should draw inspiration from the people, places and stories that have shaped the U.S. over time. You can use any technique to create your map.
- Storytelling with Historic Geographic Data: Use real data to support and strengthen the story your map is communicating. Your map must incorporate historic geographic data that connects to the story being visually communicated. Your map must include citations for the data.
Eligibility
Who Can Enter?
The competition is open to individuals who are new to the field of GIS. Any student interested in GIS, geography, history, planning or environmental science is encouraged to participate. You do not need to be a GIS major or have prior GIS experience to enter.
GIS instructors and professionals currently working in GIS are not eligible to compete. Students are encouraged to seek guidance and mentorship from instructors and GIS professionals. Mentorship is welcome and will not affect judging.
- Individual submissions only (no group submissions)
- Limit one submission per person
- Map entry must be in its finished state upon submission
Resources
You may use any credible GIS or geospatial data source.
The resources below are recommended to help guide your research and map development.
- Example: North American Cartographic Information Society
- Esri Living Atlas of the World, Living Atlas
- OpenStreetMap, Open geographic data
- Maricopa County, GIS Open Data
- ASU Library, Map & Geospatial Hub
- AGIC, Iron Cartographer 2026 & GIS Example
- University of Arizona Libraries, GIS & Geospatial Data
- City of Scottsdale, City of Scottsdale GIS
- City of Phoenix, EGISHub
Prizes
Competition winners and prize information will be announced on Nov. 17, 2026
Winner Categories: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place
Prizes: Top place winners in each category will win a prize, a certificate of achievement and cartographic bragging rights.
GIS Day Recap
2025
On Nov. 19, 2025, ASU hosted a GIS Day event, bringing the GIS community together on the Tempe campus with vendors, presentations and drone demonstrations.
Questions? Contact Shiloh Johnson, ASU GRS Sr. Project Manager, at [email protected].
Map competition images from ASU Library’s Map and Geospatial Hub.