Interactive Senate Maps Seek to Explain International Issues

November 24, 2014  - By

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee is offering a new webpage with a varietof interactive international maps using GIS technology.

From showcasing maps reflecting worldwide GDP growth rates and unemployment rates, to highlighting Freedom House’s annual countrybycountry report on political rights and civil liberties, thnewly launched feature on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website helps visually tell important global stories and trends, the committee said.

As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I want to find different ways to engage the public in keforeign policy issues, and the use oGIS technology is one way to do that,” said Chairman MenendezThese dynamic maps help bring a new dimension to understanding international issues in a quick and visual way. From relaunching the committee’s website, to establishing a committee twitterfeed, and now utilizing this mapping technology, the Senate Foreign RelationCommittee is reaching out to broader anmore diverse audiences to increase engagement on international issues.”

The chairman’s maps were created using Esri’s Senate Analytical Mapping System, a product providefreeofcharge to congressional offices to conduct research and showcase trends using geospatial data visualizations.

A screengrab of the new map feature on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website.

A screengrab of the new map feature on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website.

This article is tagged with and posted in GIS News, GIS Software, Mobile Devices, Products/Services Showcase

About the Author: Tracy Cozzens

Senior Editor Tracy Cozzens joined GPS World magazine in 2006. She also is editor of GPS World’s newsletters and the sister website Geospatial Solutions. She has worked in government, for non-profits, and in corporate communications, editing a variety of publications for audiences ranging from federal government contractors to teachers.