Random conversation in Matt McGrath’s office a couple years ago after reading Nick Chrisman’s book we all knew

Why?

• Why?

• Random conversation in Matt McGrath’s office a couple years ago after reading Nick Chrisman’s book (we all knew very little about this topic)

• Focus

• Timeline style approach
• Nothing truly historical (e.g., before computers)

• Caveats

• We are not historians, merely curious Esri development staff
• Intended to be low-key and fun – not scholarly
• Determining what is historical is quite hard …

Timeline of GIS development

• Timeline of GIS development

• Key academic developments

• Significant contributors and personalities

• Commercial technologies

• Cold War’s influence

• Impact of computer technology

• Esri’s role

• Lots of amazing trivia

Your chance to influence history! Shape how young minds perceive the past! Cement your place (and your friends) in the historical record! Expunge your enemies and the wannabees!

• Your chance to influence history! Shape how young minds perceive the past! Cement your place (and your friends) in the historical record! Expunge your enemies and the wannabees!