Join the global geospatial community on a visual and narrative journey into how the geographic approach addresses humanity’s big challenges.
Read MoreJoin the global geospatial community on a visual and narrative journey into how the geographic approach addresses humanity’s big challenges.
Read MoreThe Power of Where presents the visionary concepts of Jack Dangermond, cofounder of Esri®, the world’s leading mapping software company. With a foreword by bestselling author and writer for The Atlantic, James Fallows, it’s filled with the latest web maps, illustrations, and real-life stories from a vibrant global community of geographic information systems (GIS) users. If you’ve never heard of GIS, this is the book for you, and if you think you know what GIS is, you’ll discover much more.
From the Ring of Fire to the Fertile Crescent, The Power of Where takes us on a visual and narrative journey into the world of modern GIS and reveals its growing potential to address humanity’s big challenges. The technology is already ubiquitous, from running city governments and performing civic science to conserving open spaces and managing logistics—virtually every human endeavor.
Central to the book is the geographic approach—a way of solving problems that uses spatial location to perceive and understand patterns—from wildlife migration and rising seas to urban planning and food production. Drawing from 60 years of research and experience, the author writes from a fervent conviction that through this approach, we can confront climate change, hunger, water scarcity, inequity, and issues large and small in our everyday lives.
The book describes the methods of the geographic approach—visualization, communication, analysis, collaboration, accounting, and design—and shows how vast amounts of integrated data are propelling spatial applications into the mainstream. A companion website brings interactive maps and stories to life and serves as a starting point for students and educators—and anyone considering joining the GIS user community.
The Power of Where reveals how technologies such as web services, mobile devices, artificial intelligence, extended reality, and 3D visualization intersect with GIS and outlines the new opportunities they are creating. Its maps and stories arise from a passion for the power of place and from the mutually reinforcing revolutions in Earth observation, analysis, and collaboration that GIS and the human spirit make possible.
Explore live examples from the book and learn more about interactive mapping and the tools of modern GIS at powerofwhere.com.
- Michael Goodchild, Prof. Emeritus UCSB and Founder of NCGIA"It really is an astounding achievement, in which one man (with help from his partner and a few friends) built a company and a community around an idea. It's taken 50 years to migrate to the beautiful simplicity of one word, "where," which is really what it was all about from the start—the power of where and the science of where."
- Gilbert Castle, GIS Consultant and Author"In my opinion, The Power of Where is now the definitive book on applied GIS technology—and is likely to remain so for years to come."
- Jane Goodall"Those who embrace a geographic approach to problem-solving can learn what’s happening on the ground from above and tie that in with what we know on the ground below. It’s changing the course of history."
- Richard Saul Wurman, TED founder, architect, and designer"The Power of Where is a bible of the types of maps, cartography, spatial analysis, and diagrams that can bring our ideas for the future to life."
- James Fallows, Author and winner of the National Book Award"The Power of Where is visually stunning, and clearly and invitingly written. Jack Dangermond and his colleagues give a fascinating insiders' account of one of the most important, yet still least publicized, technological revolutions of our time. People who already know about GIS will be inspired by the examples in this book. People who have barely heard of GIS will find this the right way to start and will want to use these new tools themselves. Readers of any background will have a more specific and positive sense of how to address national and global challenges."
“[The Power of Where’s] look and feel meet the high quality standards of ESRI Press. In other words, it is a beautiful book, packed with illustrations, maps, images and diagrams…There is a well thought out structure to the content. The book begins with an introductory section that weaves together the personal development of Jack Dangermond, GIS, and his company, Esri, and its products…The book ends with a postscript explaining Jack and Laura Dangermond's drive to use GIS to make the world a better place. This book is an inspiration and a testament to what their contributions and those of their community have achieved over the years. It is highly recommended not only to the geospatial community but to anyone interested in the well-being of our planet. The book is written in a clear and simple style. As already mentioned, it is very well illustrated with a wealth of applications.”- Menno-Jan Kraak, International Journal of Cartography (https://doi.org/10.1080/23729333.2025.2465092)
Foreword by James Fallows
About the Author
Preface
Beginnings
A (Very) Brief History of GIS
01 What Is the Geographic Approach?
02 What Is Geodata?
03 What is Geovisualization?
04 What is Geocommunication?
05 What is GeoAnalysis?
06 What is GeoCollaboration?
07 What Is Geoaccounting?
08 What Is Geodesign?
Postscript
How the Book Came About
See the Book Come Alive
Acknowledgements
Image Credits
The Power of Where presents the visionary concepts of Jack Dangermond, cofounder of Esri®, the world’s leading mapping software company. With a foreword by bestselling author and writer for The Atlantic, James Fallows, it’s filled with the latest web maps, illustrations, and real-life stories from a vibrant global community of geographic information systems (GIS) users. If you’ve never heard of GIS, this is the book for you, and if you think you know what GIS is, you’ll discover much more.
From the Ring of Fire to the Fertile Crescent, The Power of Where takes us on a visual and narrative journey into the world of modern GIS and reveals its growing potential to address humanity’s big challenges. The technology is already ubiquitous, from running city governments and performing civic science to conserving open spaces and managing logistics—virtually every human endeavor.
Central to the book is the geographic approach—a way of solving problems that uses spatial location to perceive and understand patterns—from wildlife migration and rising seas to urban planning and food production. Drawing from 60 years of research and experience, the author writes from a fervent conviction that through this approach, we can confront climate change, hunger, water scarcity, inequity, and issues large and small in our everyday lives.
The book describes the methods of the geographic approach—visualization, communication, analysis, collaboration, accounting, and design—and shows how vast amounts of integrated data are propelling spatial applications into the mainstream. A companion website brings interactive maps and stories to life and serves as a starting point for students and educators—and anyone considering joining the GIS user community.
The Power of Where reveals how technologies such as web services, mobile devices, artificial intelligence, extended reality, and 3D visualization intersect with GIS and outlines the new opportunities they are creating. Its maps and stories arise from a passion for the power of place and from the mutually reinforcing revolutions in Earth observation, analysis, and collaboration that GIS and the human spirit make possible.
Explore live examples from the book and learn more about interactive mapping and the tools of modern GIS at powerofwhere.com.
– Michael Goodchild, Prof. Emeritus UCSB and Founder of NCGIA"It really is an astounding achievement, in which one man (with help from his partner and a few friends) built a company and a community around an idea. It's taken 50 years to migrate to the beautiful simplicity of one word, "where," which is really what it was all about from the start—the power of where and the science of where."
– Gilbert Castle, GIS Consultant and Author"In my opinion, The Power of Where is now the definitive book on applied GIS technology—and is likely to remain so for years to come."
– Jane Goodall"Those who embrace a geographic approach to problem-solving can learn what’s happening on the ground from above and tie that in with what we know on the ground below. It’s changing the course of history."
– Richard Saul Wurman, TED founder, architect, and designer"The Power of Where is a bible of the types of maps, cartography, spatial analysis, and diagrams that can bring our ideas for the future to life."
– James Fallows, Author and winner of the National Book Award"The Power of Where is visually stunning, and clearly and invitingly written. Jack Dangermond and his colleagues give a fascinating insiders' account of one of the most important, yet still least publicized, technological revolutions of our time. People who already know about GIS will be inspired by the examples in this book. People who have barely heard of GIS will find this the right way to start and will want to use these new tools themselves. Readers of any background will have a more specific and positive sense of how to address national and global challenges."
“[The Power of Where’s] look and feel meet the high quality standards of ESRI Press. In other words, it is a beautiful book, packed with illustrations, maps, images and diagrams…There is a well thought out structure to the content. The book begins with an introductory section that weaves together the personal development of Jack Dangermond, GIS, and his company, Esri, and its products…The book ends with a postscript explaining Jack and Laura Dangermond's drive to use GIS to make the world a better place. This book is an inspiration and a testament to what their contributions and those of their community have achieved over the years. It is highly recommended not only to the geospatial community but to anyone interested in the well-being of our planet. The book is written in a clear and simple style. As already mentioned, it is very well illustrated with a wealth of applications.”– Menno-Jan Kraak, International Journal of Cartography (https://doi.org/10.1080/23729333.2025.2465092)
Foreword by James Fallows
About the Author
Preface
Beginnings
A (Very) Brief History of GIS
01 What Is the Geographic Approach?
02 What Is Geodata?
03 What is Geovisualization?
04 What is Geocommunication?
05 What is GeoAnalysis?
06 What is GeoCollaboration?
07 What Is Geoaccounting?
08 What Is Geodesign?
Postscript
How the Book Came About
See the Book Come Alive
Acknowledgements
Image Credits