If you are new to Service at Sea, here’s the short version of the story:

What: A four-year GIS (mapping technology) service expedition around the globe, offering free GIS training and mapping services to conservation and humanitarian organizations, especially in developing countries.  Our focus will be on projects that address local land, water, public health and cultural heritage issues and opportunities.

How: Circumnavigation by a well-equipped and environmentally friendly sailboat with teachers, technology professionals, and students aboard. As we move slowly and cleanly around the world, we deliver training workshops, grant GIS software to organizations, and assist them in creating a sustainability and support plan for their communities. Ultimately, we empower local organizations to define and then reach their sustainability goals with the effective use of GEO-Technology. We will Leverage every aspect of Service at Sea along the route:
- Each stop will be a much publicized and anticipated community event (field visit, GIS workshop and meals), where the details of the local project workwill be shared throughout the visit.
- The GIS data will be collected from each stop, blended with a written account of the importance of the work, and be shared with K-12 community around the world, as a downloadable teaching unit in geography, social studies, earth science, and technology applications.
- Each stop will be documented for a television / web documentary series (e.g., Jacques Cousteau style).
- This effort will deliver a maximum GIS effect on conservation and humanitarian organizations while minimizing the carbon contributions to the atmosphere.

Who: Conservation organizations, educators, students, and mariners. We are recruiting many partners, including ESRI, National Geographic Society, Digital Globe, AllPoints GIS, Association of American Geographers and Soul Fabric Films, who have already committed or are considering committing their support. We are always building and strengthening our team!

When: We launch Service at Sea from the ESRI User Conference, June 07, San Diego, CA
www.serviceatsea.org