Working in groups, second year students in a Geographic Information Systems module within our department, explored the use of ArcGIS – StoryMaps. They were tasked to use the templates, interactive maps and other functionality in the StoryMaps cloud application to support a digital narrative on any topic that interests them. The result was an array of interesting and visually appealing StoryMaps. During the final lecture of the semester prizes were awarded to groups chosen by the class, the lecturer and representatives from Esri-SA, the distributor of ArcGIS technology in South Africa.

Mr Stuart Martin and Mrs Lauren Sweiden from Esri-SA, joined the prize-giving and lecture session. They commended the students on their Storymap submissions and Mr Martin gave a talk on the immense application value of spatial technologies.  He urged the students to be inquisitive, apply their minds and enthusiastically look for innovative ways to use geospatial applications by identifying patterns, trends, causes and possible solutions for the many problems in our world today.