This document provides an overview of the history and components of the Global Ministry Mapping System (GMMS). It discusses the development of mapping software for mission work from 1986 onwards. It describes the current GMMS which uses ArcGIS for Desktop software along with geographic and statistical data. It outlines the data sources used in GMMS, including public domain data on country and province boundaries, cities, languages and demographic information. The document shows examples of maps created by GMMS on topics like religions, health and languages in various countries and regions. It describes how GMMS provides preset layer files, maps and a user interface to enable mapping by mission groups.

2. History behind Global Ministry
Mapping System (GMMS)
• 1986 – very little personal computer mapping
software available
– Development of Globe software
• Atlas Graphics
• Atlas GIS (DOS and Windows) 1990
– Made data available
• GMMS for ArcView – 2003
– Name for ArcView now ArcGIS for Desktop - Basic

3. Current GMMS Components
• ArcGIS for Desktop for Basic software
• Geographic and statistical data
• Computer interface specifically created for
mission community

4. Geographic Data Sources
• Wanted data set to cover whole world
• Public domain
• World Data Bank II
– 1:3,000,000 scale
• Digital Chart of the World (VMap Level 0)
– 1:1,000,000 scale

5. Comparison WDBII and DCW

6. Geographic and Mission Databases
• Includes country and province boundaries with
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associated statistical information
Includes a variety of features (cities, roads,
rivers, lakes, etc.)
Includes language/people groups data
Includes data from major mission research
databases
South Asia data
Data and Maps for ArcGIS
2.2 million towns and cities around the world

7. Data
• Religious and demographic statistics by country
• Language areas and points
• Peoples (Joshua Project, peoplegroups.org)
• Topography - Elevation and hillshades

8. Layer Files for most Geography
• These give a default symbology option to
users

9. GMMS Maps (mxd files)
• Over 250 finished maps displaying
religious, health, and demographic data
– Most focused on world and country scale
– One set from World Factbook data

10. GMMS User Interface

11. Wizard – Map Area

12. Wizard – Map Emphasis

13. Wizard – Language Information

14. Wizard – Language Data

15. Wizard – Sliders for Layers

16. Maps by Users of GMMS

17. George McFall – Taiwan Churches

18. Computer map - Taiwan

19. Mexico Mapping

20. Steve Huffman
Language

21. South Asia - Bengali

22. Scott Todd – Tanzania Hospitals

23. Josh Ellis - Houston, TX

24. Distributions of Religions

25. Population and Percent Evangelical

26. Global Mapping International
• GMI is an international team of evangelical
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research, GIS and IT professionals passionate
about informing, equipping, and connecting
the Church for more appropriate and effective
mission.
www.gmi.org
I’m happy to have “mapping” in our name,
since that is my focus, but want to be sure you
to realize GMI does more than only mapping

27. WorldGeoDatasets.com
• Interest from
government and
educational groups in
data, esp. World
Language Mapping
System
www.worldgeodatasets.com

28. The Mobile Revolution
Is coming to rural Africa

29. Designing a Mobile Info System for the DR Congo
Using ArcGIS and GMI's GMMS Language & Population Tools
Design, research and track any project from the palm of your hand
• DRC - Country Topo Atlas
• DRC - Language Atlas -- the 217
living languages of the DRC
• DRC - Major Cities Atlas
• DRC - Village level Atlas (for
tracking over 18,500 pre schools,
primary schools and secondary
schools)

30. DRC - Country Atlas: Cities

31. DRC - Country Atlas: Villages

32. DRC - Language Atlas

33. DRC - Language Atlas

34. DRC - Villages Atlas

35. DRC - Villages Atlas

36. DRC - Villages Atlas

37. How to design a powerful off line navigation system
and off line research system using the free PDF Maps
app by Avenza (for the Apple iPad or Android tablet)
• Design geo-referenced PDF
maps using the "export to PDF"
feature in ArcGIS
• Download and install the PDF
Maps app on your iPad or
Android tablet
• Install any geo-referenced PDF
Map into the PDF Maps app by
sending it as an email
attachment to yourself on your
iPad or tablet -- then use the
"Open in: PDF Maps" feature