Students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to sign up for "Mapping Urban History" virtual trainings to learn how to digitize historical census geographic boundaries using open-source GIS software and free, public resources.

The two-part series is free and hosted by sociology faculty Dr. Amber Crowell from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 31 on Zoom (RSVP by Monday, July 28).

The sessions are aimed at those with interests in sociology, history, geography, or urban and regional planning. Professionals involved with community-focused work could also learn about tools to bring the history of neighborhoods to life for exploration and analysis.

Crowell has been overseeing a National Science Foundation-funded project to digitize historical census and neighborhood boundary maps through The Mark Fossett Lab, which has also analyzed residential segregation outcomes in urban areas in historical and contemporary eras.

Fresno State students will assist in the presentation, and additional support has been provided by Texas A&M University counterparts.