GISDay activities planned

Pitt-Bradford will mark Geographic Information Systems Day Nov. 14 with undergraduate research projects and speakers.

Activities will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Mukaiyama University Room of the Frame-Westerberg Commons. Speakers will make presentations from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The public is welcome, and light refreshments will be served.

GIS Day is an internationally observed day designed to demonstrate the uses of geographic information systems in society. GIS is essentially the mapping of data sets to geographical locations in order to study, manage, analyze and interpret geographical relationships and trends.

GIS attaches information to a specific location in a way that can be used to build complex interdisciplinary maps to illustrate data and reveal patterns.

Guest speaker for the event is Cary P. Kuminecz, president and owner of StratResources Geologic Consulting, who will speak about “How do Horizontal Oil and Gas Wellbores get Where They are Going?”

Kuminecz has 38 years' experience as an active petroleum geologist and worked with Exxon and National Fuel before opening his consulting firm.

Dr. Matt Kropf, assistant professor of energy science and director of the Harry R. Halloran Jr./ARG Energy Institute, will also speak. His talk is titled “GIS for Digitizing and Ground Truthing Locations of Abandoned and Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells.”

In addition to guest speakers, Pitt-Bradford students studying GIS will present posters of their projects.

Pitt-Bradford offers Introduction to Geographic Information Science and Technology and Advanced GIS courses as part of its petroleum technology, environmental studies and energy science and technology programs.

For disability needs related to the program, contact the Office of Disability Resources at 814-362-7609 or clh71@pitt.edu.