Mapping Equity: Using GIS and Maps to Make Invisible Realities Visible
2021, Equity + Justice, Summit Towards Equity
Maps are great tools to bring together a massive amount of data and share it in a format everyone is familiar with. They are also a unique tool to bring unnoticeable realities—including realities of inequality—to visible patterns. This 90-minute workshop will introduce you to how to make a thematic map that highlights an equity indicator. No experience in geographic information systems (GIS) or cartography is required.
If you wish to participate in the hands-on part of the workshop, please sign up for a free public account with ArcGIS Online before the workshop. Please be advised that the personal information you disclose to Esri (the developer of ArcGIS) is stored on servers located in the U.S.A. You may wish to review the Esri privacy policy before using ArcGIS Online.
See below for an example of a map made with GIS to highlight an equity indicator—in this case, median income by region, using Canada Census 2016 data. Click here to explore the full interactive map.
1:00 p.m. (PT)
Online Workshop
Part of Towards Equity
The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified inequities and exposed the deficiencies of our institutions. It has confirmed we must enact change and signaled that transformation is possible. What must we understand –and do– to recover equitably and reimagine our systems to confront the intersecting crises of inequality, systemic racism and climate change?
Towards Equity, SFU Public Square’s 2021 Community Summit Series will take place online throughout the year and will bring the university into conversation with local and global communities. Join us to learn and take action together towards a more just, equitable and sustainable future.
Sarah Zhang
Sarah Zhang is the GIS/Map Librarian at Simon Fraser University. Sarah holds a Master of Library and Information Studies and a Master of Science in Ecology. As an immigrant and mother, she is constantly inspired by the cultures around her, whether as an insider or outsider. Passionate about lowering the bar to entering GIS/mapping for students, researchers and the public, she enjoys providing learning opportunities for them to become not only consumers of geospatial data, which has become pervasive in today’s world, but also producers and communicators of geospatial information and knowledge.
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