Museums

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GIS Solutions for Museums From excavation to exhibition, GIS helps in collection management.

Museums and related institutions, including zoos, botanical gardens, aquariums, nature centers, and historical societies, often use GIS for research projects, in public education, and to manage operations.

Researchers can analyze items in a collection with GIS to determine whether there are any potential relationships between them. Biologists can use information such as the soil type and climate where a plant is discovered to create a predictive model that identifies other locations where the plant may be growing.

In addition, museum staff can use GIS to develop interactive maps and interpretive materials to enhance exhibits for the general public. They can also incorporate mapping and geographic exploration into educational programs for students. With GIS, museums and related institutions can map facilities and items within a collection, such as the locations of plants within a botanic garden.

Success Stories

These stories and demonstrations show how museums benefit from the use of geographic analysis and GIS.

• Renowned Botanist Peter H. Raven Offers Plan for the Planet
• Managing Trees at the San Francisco Botanical Garden with GIS
• Bringing Local History to Life: GIS at the Granite Falls Historical Society [PDF]