GIS Education Center

Organization Needs & Data

Given the primary needs of each organization below, create one or more maps using the data and stipulations provided. Maps that simply, but elegantly, describe the locations, offer additional information, and match the organization mission are the foremost goal, but feel free to get creative! Incorporate other datasets to create maps that are informative, unique and insightful. The maps you create are important to support the goals of each organization while raising awareness of these services around the community.

Here are some tips to get you started:

• Consider focusing on only a certain section of the city or a specific neighborhood or supervisor district. Help illuminate the business or arts and the unique neighborhood traits.
• Consider analyzing the population or transit options near or within a certain distance of these businesses or art pieces.
• Consider using spatial statistic tools to create heat maps.
• Further datasets listed to the right may spark interesting maps.

Though we encourage at least one dataset to be from one of the organizations listed, you can create a mash-up by combining datasets. Judging will emphasize originality and information conveyed.

Organization, Need, and Data

SFMade is a non-profit organization focused on building economic development by supporting local manufacturing through promoting locally-made products, encouraging entrepeneurship and creating employment opportunities for the local workforce. Primary Need: Map San Francisco's manufacturers. Display the location of each (approximately 125) local manufacturer within San Francisco. This map would be ideally hosted on a website, and would be an interactive map that includes the following information: Name of Company, Street Address, website address; If the company offers factory tours (yes/no). If the manufacturing location also has on-site retail (yes/no). Other: Map of Key Retailers of SFMade Products. Display the location of each of major retailers of SFMade products within San Francisco. This map would also ideally be hosted on a website and would include the following information: Name of Retailer, Street Address, website address; Key SFMade products carried at retail stores. Data: Download Data

SF Environment's Green Business mission is to improve, enhance, and preserve the environment and to promote San Francisco's long-term environmental well being by helping business adopt sustainable environmental practices. Primary Need: Map of green businesses in San Francisco. Consider identifiying businesses by sector; highlighting/featuring a set of business for their accomplishments or services.  Other: Further analysis can be used to render maps regarding the number of green businesses by neighborhood or supervisor district; Or, capturing a snapshot of demographics within a certain distance of certain sectors or businesses; Or, identifiying businesses within a certain distance of transit or along bike routes. Data: Download Data

The San Francisco Arts Commission is dedicated to creating and promoting programs that help to make the arts available to every person in San Francisco. Need: Map location of public art around city in a visually interesting way that encapsulates the unique mediums and themes. Other: Further analysis can render maps regarding proximity of art pieces to schools; Or, distance from public transit. Data: Download Data

Should you need more information about a given dataset, please contact Melanie Jonas.

Mapping Competition

Design, Analyze, Support Our Community Organizations...

The GIS Education Center is pleased to announce a mapping competition open to any map enthusiasts. Maps are great way to apply your design and/or analytical skills to support your interests and share a story for others. This mapping competition is focused on supporting three organizations in our community: SF Made, SF Green Business, and SF Art Commission.

The three organizations each seek a published print and/or web map for dissemination to promote their mission and raise awareness within in our community. This is a great opportunity to build your portfolio, contribute to our community, and be recognized for your talent.

Read below on how to get started...and good luck!

Contest Information

Prizes: One winner will receive a complimentary student license for ArcMap and free enrollment to any one GISEC workshop. The winning entry will also be submitted to BAAMA for the 2011 BAAMA Educational Scholarship and to the ESRI Map Gallery for the July 2011 conference in San Diego. Two other non-cash honorable mentions will be given to the top entries that represent the other two organizations being mapped.

Eligability: The contest is open to any map enthusiast who wishes to put their design and/or analytical skills to the test.

Supplemental Info & Data: Read more about the organization need and download data.

Rules: All submissions must be the original work of the entrant; outside assistance is not allowed. Use of third party or commercial technology is permitted, but must be appropriately cited. The data, if not produced by the entrant, must also be appropriately cited. Any software may be used to produce the map, but maps must be submitted electronically (PDF, TIFF, or URL).

Representatives from each organization and faculty from the GIS Education Center will be vote on entries. Maps will be judged based on:

• Artistic merit and cartographic presentation
• Clarity—how well does the map communicate the information?
• Quality of graphical composition—is information appropriately presented and at an appropriate level of refinement?
• Given the intended audience, is the cartographic design fitting?
• Creativity, is your map novel and does it convey useful and interesting information?

Submittal notes:

• Map should not created in page space larger than 34" x 44".
• Map(s) should be submitted as either: PDF, TIFF, or URL
• PDF and TIFF should be saved at 300 dpi

Entries may be reproduced in any form the organization to whom the data belongs or the GISEC website.

Feel free to speak with contest organizers listed below for advice and guidance before committing to a particular map.

• Melanie Jonas
• Mono Simeone
• Rick Kos

Deadline & Entry: All entries must be submitted no later than 5:00pm PST on May 11, 2011.

Please submit your entry by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the following:

• Electronic file as an attachment or URL to the web map
• Organization the map is intended for
• Title
• Purpose/audience
• Size
• Anything special about the poster you wish to communicate
• Name(s) of author(s)
• A phone number to reach you

Please remember to properly cite data or software.