Redlands, California-All six New England states and New York will participate in GIS Day on November 17, 2004. Although each state has proclaimed GIS Day in past years, this is the first year all seven states are participating, unifying the region's support of this important technology.
Participants throughout the region will host events throughout their respective communities to spread the word about geographic information system (GIS) technology and its many uses and benefits.
GIS is a computer-based mapping tool that takes database information about a location, including streets, buildings, water features, and terrain, and turns it into visual layers. The ability to see and analyze geographic features on a map gives users a better understanding of a particular location, enabling planners, analysts, and others to make informed decisions about their communities, the environment, and businesses. This innovative technology brings countless benefits to the world through geography. Held each year on the Wednesday of National Geographic Society's Geography Awareness Week, GIS Day is a global event that celebrates the technology and extends awareness of its important contributions in science, technology, information, and the humanities. The event is a reflection of the enthusiasm and commitment of individual GIS users everywhere. Although the official date of GIS Day 2004 is November 17, GIS users and communities are encouraged to host events throughout the year.
This is the sixth annual GIS Day and the sixth year Massachusetts is celebrating the grassroots event. This year is the fourth GIS Day for Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. New York and Maine will celebrate their third GIS Day and Vermont, its second. Participating cities include Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts; Burlington and Montpelier, Vermont; Hartford, Connecticut; Albany, New York; and Manchester, New Hampshire. Last year's GIS Day included more than 900 registered events in 76 countries around the world. There were more than 30 registered events in the northeast region last year, including the University of New Hampshire's annual Geo-Spatial Science www.gisday.com. The site also contains information about states, municipalities, schools, and other organizations celebrating GIS Day.
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About ESRI For more than 30 years, ESRI has been the leading developer of GIS software with more than 300,000 clients worldwide. ESRI software is used in all 200 of the largest cities in the United States and in more than 60 percent of counties and municipalities nationwide. Headquartered in California, ESRI has regional offices throughout the United States, international distributors in more than 90 countries, and more than 1,600 business partners. ESRI's goal is to develop comprehensive tools that enable users to efficiently manage, use, and serve geographic information to make a difference in the world around them. ESRI also provides consulting, implementation, and technical support services. www.esri.com.
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