Awareness of Capabilities and Applications of GIS
                             Southampton
                             Michael Clark
      
     Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have become a major IT
     development area in teaching, research, government, the public
     services, commerce and industry. This new technology is involving
     many groups that had not previously had a strong commitment to
     computer databases or graphics. In addition, it often relies upon
     complex software, which poses new problems to IT specialists who
     are required to support applications development or computing
     service provision to the new categories of user.

     The GIS Training/Awareness project will thus develop support
     materials aimed mainly at:
          - New users (academic staff, research staff, project staff)
          - Staff of computing/IT service providers
          - Those charged with evaluating, selecting or implementing
            a new GIS
      
      The project will provide a graded series of presentation media,
      backed up by training data sets and applications which illustrate
      the range of GIS function.
      
      The first pilot implementations will be under way early in 1992.
      
      The GeoData Institute GIS Training/Awareness project has three
      aims:
            - to identify the distinct training and awareness needs of
              different potential user groups.
            - to innovate the content and structure of the GIS concepts
              and skills to be presented in the training materials
              produced.
            - to innovate the delivery media through which to present
              these materials.



      Presentation will be appropriate to need and content, but will
      include disc-based storyboard shows, multi-media programmes and
      training packages. GIS functions and operation will be
      illustrated through a sequence of environmental applications
      chosen to demonstrate good science and effective management in an
      accessible way.
      
      The project will be seeking assistance in the identification of
      training needs and in evaluation of pilot materials.
      Please address queries or express an interest to the Project
      Co-ordinator, Dr  Michael Clark- GeoData Institute, University of
      Southampton, Southampton S09 5NH: Fax (0703) 592849: Phone (0703)
      583565: Email GEODATA@UK.AC.SOTON.IBM.
    _______________________________________________________________________
   |                                                                       |
   |   In general the copyright for material on the NISS Bulletin Board    |
   |   is held by the CHEST & NISS Centre (University of Bath) or by the   |
   |   authors.                                                            |
   |                                                                       |
   |   Copying or reproduction of the material is permitted provided that  |
   |                                                                       |
   |       (a) the source is acknowledged                                  |
   |   and (b) the material is not used for commercial gain.               |
   |                                                                       |
   |   However, material must not be made available outside the academic   |
   |   community without prior consent.                                    |
   |_______________________________________________________________________|