Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as an Evaluation Tool

Guest Speakers:     
Francis Harvey, Professor at the Department of Geography, University of Minnesota
Mark Herzfeld, Senior Program Evaluator, Ramsey County Research and Evaluation
Luther Krueger, Crime Prevention, Minneapolis Police Department  

Although the utility of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in assisting with planning, public health and geography is documented, the usefulness of GIS as an evaluation tool has gone mostly unnoticed. GIS can assist evaluators to convey the results of an evaluation in a way that is meaningful, such as plotting impact and outcome data over time. Minnesota Evaluation Association is glad to provide an opportunity for the evaluators to explore the potential of GIS as a key tool in evaluation processes. Not only will evaluators explore the basics of GIS as a unique method but they will also learn about how it has been effectively used in our community, such as evaluating the performance of crime prevention strategies with the Minneapolis Police Department.