Cambridge GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is always working towards finding new and better ways to get Cambridge geographic data out to the public. The GIS team supplies datasets, services, and applications to city staff and department websites that host GIS maps and apps, as well as to visitors of the GIS website.
The GIS website is a portal not only to interactive mapping applications, static map sets, mobile GIS, the GIS data dictionary and downloads, but it also has unique tools for exploring Cambridge through the custom address specific dashboard called myCambridge.
The GIS team recently started using Story Map Applications to promote some of the city’s great resources and events. Story Maps are simple to create, easy to use, and accessible across all devices. They use geography as a means of organizing and presenting information. Story Maps can combine interactive maps with other rich content such as text, photos, video, audio, and web links all in one seamless experience. They are diverse, flexible, and can be applied to almost any theme.
This week, two new Story Maps went live highlighting Soofa Solar-Charging Benches and the 2015 Summer Food Programs. Other resource oriented Story Maps include City Departments, Community Gardens, Historic Landmarks, Cambridge Public Schools and Watershed Points of Interest.
The project is just beginning and GIS hopes to continue to grow and expand and share these amazing stories with the Cambridge community. For more information or to view our Story Map Gallery, please visit us at www.cambridgema.gov/gis
Want to keep up with what’s new in Cambridge GIS? Follow CambridgeGIS on Twitter for all the mapping and spatial data updates.
Photo: The Cambridge Summer Food Service Program provides free lunch to anyone under age 19 during the summer when school is out. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday (weather permitting) at Danehy Park, Hoyt Field, Sennot Park, Greene-Rose Heritage Park and Gold Star Mother’s Park. Parks are staffed by Recreation Department Workers. The Summer Food Program has a contract with Sidekim Foods of Lynn, to provide balanced, nutritious lunches each day.