RIEDC Awarded Special Achievement in GIS Award from ESRI
August 14, 2008 | Print this page | Share This |
The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation has received the Special Achievement in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Award for Leadership with Geospatial Technology from the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) at the organization’s annual International User Conference in San Diego.
The corporation began a partnership several years ago with the Providence Plan to develop an Internet-based mapping server for Rhode Island. Using GIS, RIEDC analyzes statewide land use patterns to determine the future availability of industrial and commercial land.
“We are thrilled to receive this award from ESRI recognizing the capabilities of our Internet Map Server through the use of GIS technology,” says Saul Kaplan, RIEDC executive director. “RIEDC’s Internet Map Server is an integral component of Rhode Island’s business attraction and retention activities. Using GIS, RIEDC is able to produce maps that can depict up-to-date land availability, which helps companies looking for land to relocate or start a business in Rhode Island.”
GIS combines computer hardware, software and data to create a tool for capturing, managing, analyzing and displaying all forms of geographic information. Virtually any information can be linked to a geographic location, allowing users to see that information as part of a complete picture to be analyzed and applied to a problem or issue. With GIS, people can see firsthand how the world works and changes, view and manage information about locations, analyze spatial relationships and visualize processes.
By using GIS technology, RIEDC has been able to obtain current local data and interpret it internally instead of relying on analysis by others, increasing its efficiency. Through this technology, the local community can look up local land records, conduct searches, develop their own local data and make it accessible to the public.
“At ESRI, we are always deeply impressed by the innovation of our users,” says Jack Dangermond, ESRI president. “We want to recognize the efforts of these individuals with our Special Achievement in GIS Award. This recognition is well deserved for how they’ve applied geospatial technology to address the needs of their industries and communities. They are defining GIS best practices.”
Currently, the RIEDC is undertaking an expansion of the capabilities of the Internet Map Server tool and will continue to update local data as well as expand data content.
