And since we’re on the topic of GIS, consider hooking into the feed at or at least an occasional visit to one of LSNC’s special project sister sites, the Race Equity Project. (Folks attending the NLADA Substantive Law Conference in San Jose had the opportunity last week to meet and learn from a stellar cast of advocates (led by Bill Kennedy of LSNC) who created a wholly new track on race equity issues in legal services practice. There are regular postings on use of GIS as an advocacy tool, with examples of how LSNC and others are using GIS and statistical data to get the job done. Plus, tips and reviews on mapping options, generally. For example, take a look at Swivel me timbers . . . arrrrgh, with a concise review of the new mapping features integrated into the Swivel platform? There, aren’t you happy you know that?

DataPlace, one of our favorite web-based GIS mapping and data analytical sites—with a national scope to boot—raised the bar today with the beta debut of DataPlace Groups. This is one very major, expansive collaborative feature-set upgrade to the DataPlace interface. You need to register (for free) to tap into it, but it offers the type of collaborative tools that are becoming more common with web-based applications. Managing and collaborating on a map or data project within DataPlace groups is not as simple and intuitive and user friendly as say, Basecamp, but then Basecamp does not even begin to attempt anything as complex as DataPlace does. So, there is more of a learning curve but you can now do a whole lot more with others on mapping and data projects. Very, very impressive stuff.