Wake County's Geographic Information Systems (GIS) staff invites the public to learn about geography and GIS technology as the County recognizes "Celebrate Your Place in the World on GIS Day" Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at One Exchange Place, Suite 100, (corner of One Exchange Pl. and South Wilmington St.), in downtown Raleigh.

GIS Day is a global event designed to show how GIS helps address local and global issues everyday.

Wake County's GIS staff will join their counterparts from the City of Raleigh and the State of North Carolina to host the open house and map gallery.

Participants will learn about and interact with GIS tools, including:

• Electoral Systems Used to Populate National Legislatures (poster)
• N.C. Economic Development Intelligence System (EDIS)
• Landslide Mapping Program for Watauga County, NC
• Natural Heritage Program's Conservation Planning Tool
• Public health maps showing diseases and related health outcomes statewide
• Raleigh Police Department Crime Analysis
• Raleigh Damage Assessment Application
• Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) and In-Vehicle Navigation (IVN) used by Wake EMS, Wake GIS and Raleigh-Wake 911 Center and
• Wake County Sheriff's Office GIS Web site

Visitors will be able to vote for their favorite display and be eligible to win prizes, including Carolina Hurricanes tickets. Creators of the winning maps will also receive prizes.

Centennial Campus Middle School students will also present their own GIS project. Individuals will have an opportunity to explore geographic features of their own property, communities and surrounding environment.

For more information about GIS Day visit www.gisday.com.