Unlocking GIS in Supply Chain Management: A Modern Approach
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Chapter 1: The Intersection of GIS and Supply Chain
Recently, a GIS analyst reached out with an intriguing question: Is there a dedicated business geography group that focuses on supply chain challenges? He wondered if supply chain professionals are utilizing ArcGIS Pro technology and whether our students in supply chain management (SCM) should familiarize themselves with it. ArcGIS offers valuable tools for risk management in businesses, yet it's noteworthy that very few SCM graduates currently list this skill on their resumes.
In response to his inquiry, I consulted with a colleague specializing in GIS geography, who informed me that the American Association of Geographers (AAG) hosts a Business Specialty Group that addresses such issues. For those interested, additional resources can be found on the ESRI website, which showcases various supply chain problems and solutions involving GIS technology.
Here are some insightful examples of how GIS can tackle supply chain challenges, including best practices that provide dashboard views of disruptions. Advanced operations within ArcGIS Enterprise also offer significant capabilities for managing these issues.
Section 1.1: Exploring Resources for GIS in SCM
For those seeking problem sets, GitHub contains a wealth of datasets and suggestions for tackling complex supply chain problems. A brief search reveals numerous Python-based modeling projects dedicated to SCM.
Subsection 1.1.1: Educational Opportunities
While many of these topics exceed the scope of our introductory GIS course, we do offer GEOG 5690: GIS Workflows. In this course, students delve deeper into dashboard creation and origin-destination analysis, completing four mini-projects with a data type of their choosing. Additionally, our Project Management and Programming course (GEOG 4670/6670) is tailored to benefit SCM students.
For further reading, students may find the GIScience Body of Knowledge and relevant encyclopedia entries quite beneficial. Here are some useful links:
If you're curious about where business geographers publish their work, they often target applied geography journals, which can be accessed here:
Chapter 2: Advancing GIS Education
Our introductory course, GEOG 3010 — Fundamentals of GIS, provides a comprehensive overview of geographic information systems (GIS). It combines theoretical principles with hands-on experience in map creation and spatial data analysis. This course emphasizes the fundamentals of vector and raster data while addressing societal implications, emerging technologies, data standards, and public access to information.
We have upgraded to ArcGIS Pro for its enhanced functionality in online settings. To accommodate Mac users, we will offer dedicated office hours for those needing to use remote desktop solutions. Throughout the semester, students will engage with real data related to COVID-19 and racial disparities, ensuring they gain practical experience without relying on external interpretations. Furthermore, students will have access to ESRI tutorials on constructing COVID dashboards and similar projects.
This dual approach of integrating GIS with supply chain management not only prepares students for their future careers but also enhances their understanding of the current landscape in the field.
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