The Conversation

Before entering politics, Walz taught geography – first in Alliance, Nebraska, and later at West High School in Mankato, Minnesota – where he was an early adopter of GIS. The technology allows users to visualize, analyze and interpret data through maps.

“As governor, the ability to use what I knew about mapping to convey complex issues to effect change amongst people is really important,” Walz said at the geospatial conference.

GIS played a pivotal role in enabling the Minnesota Department of Health to collaborate with other national entities. This collaboration resulted in multiple public dashboards that provided key metrics, such as case numbers, hospital capacities and critical supply inventories.

As world affairs grow more complex, combining GIS with advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and big data will be essential for planning and decision-making. The challenge now is to scale this approach to national and international levels, paving the way for a more informed world.