NWGIS 2018 Conference

"This session will survey the use of geographic analysis and GIS for equity and social justice (ESJ). Beginning with the coincidence of Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream Speech’ and the first URISA Conference – both on Wednesday, August 28, 1963 – we will examine the pioneering work of Prof. William Bunge in the area of quantitative spatial analysis and applied geography for issues related to social change and justice in the United States and Canada. Bunge’s work related to theoretical geography anticipated the development of GIS. His work on the Detroit Geographical Expedition in 1968 and the Toronto Geographical Expedition in 1973 applied geography in the field for community based social issues.In the early 1960’s Bunge received his PhD in Geography from the University of Washington where by coincidence Edgar Horwood was first applying computer technology for urban planning at the same time. Horwood’s work, and the first conference on August 28, 1963 led to the formation of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association. We will survey research and publications related to Equity of Social Justice as reported in URISA conference proceedings, workshops, and the URISA journal during the past 55 years.
We will conclude the session by outlining how GIS is used for ESJ issues at King County (Washington) and other local agencies. King County was renamed in 2005 for Martin Luther King. King County is a leader in applying ESJ criteria in all of its priorities and programs. We will describe how King County GIS supports this work by creating a rich foundation of data and tools to put ESJ analysis into the hands of everyone within the county and communities that we serve. We will also present current work done both by other agencies and academic institutions."