The Power of Where: A Geographic Approach to the World’s Greatest Challenges

The Power of Where presents the visionary concepts of Jack Dangermond, cofounder of Esri®, the world’s leading mapping software company. With a foreword by bestselling author and writer for The Atlantic, James Fallows, it’s filled with the latest web maps, illustrations, and real-life stories from a vibrant global community of geographic information systems (GIS) users. If you’ve never heard of GIS, this is the book for you, and if you think you know what GIS is, you’ll discover much more.

From the Ring of Fire to the Fertile Crescent, The Power of Where takes us on a visual and narrative journey into the world of modern GIS and reveals its growing potential to address humanity’s big challenges. The technology is already ubiquitous, from running city governments and performing civic science to conserving open spaces and managing logistics—virtually every human endeavor.

Central to the book is the geographic approach—a way of solving problems that uses spatial location to perceive and understand patterns—from wildlife migration and rising seas to urban planning and food production. Drawing from 60 years of research and experience, the author writes from a fervent conviction that through this approach, we can confront climate change, hunger, water scarcity, inequity, and issues large and small in our everyday lives.

The book describes the methods of the geographic approach—visualization, communication, analysis, collaboration, accounting, and design—and shows how vast amounts of integrated data are propelling spatial applications into the mainstream. A companion website brings interactive maps and stories to life and serves as a starting point for students and educators—and anyone considering joining the GIS user community.

The Power of Where reveals how technologies such as web services, mobile devices, artificial intelligence, extended reality, and 3D visualization intersect with GIS and outlines the new opportunities they are creating. Its maps and stories arise from a passion for the power of place and from the mutually reinforcing revolutions in Earth observation, analysis, and collaboration that GIS and the human spirit make possible.

Explore live examples from the book and learn more about interactive mapping and the tools of modern GIS at powerofwhere.com.

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About Us

At Esri, we help our customers create the world they want to see. Through our location technology, we empower our customers to use spatial data to address our world’s largest problems in conservation, healthcare, social justice, and more.

Esri Press is the publishing group at Esri. We are dedicated to inspiring curiosity and sharing geospatial knowledge through the books we publish.

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What types of books does Esri Press publish?

We publish books that help readers understand their world from a geographic perspective, from kids’ STEM titles to technical books.

What is geographic information systems (GIS) and why does it matter?

GIS helps map and share data about the world. From pandemics to global warming, GIS is a tool used to create solutions for serious world challenges.

What makes your books unique?

Esri makes the world’s most powerful GIS software. We work with experts to create quality books that further your curiosity, professional development, and enjoyment of maps.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Esri Press (August 6, 2024)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1589486064
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1589486065
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11.5 x 0.75 x 9.75 inches