To raise awareness of the importance of GIS, the Forsyth County Department of Geographic Information Services (GIS) will be hosting two public information sessions at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Forsyth County Administration Building (110 East Main St.).

“The understanding of geography is crucial to fundamental decision making,” said Department of GIS Director John Kilgore. “Promoting and expanding GIS awareness and education across Forsyth County will teach residents how important the contributions are that GIS is making to the fields of science and information.”

The public information sessions will be free to residents looking to learn more about the County’s GIS services and how to use them.

Staff members from the Department of GIS will also be stationed in the Forsyth County Administration Building for “Mappy Hour” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., where residents can view maps and ask questions.

The Department of GIS is tasked with developing, maintaining, coordinating and distributing physical locations and regional context for County services. GIS acts as a tool to create and analyze patterns, visualize data, and provide a catalog of infrastructure in Forsyth County.

To explore GIS and mapping services in Forsyth County, visit the department’s webpage.