2013 URISA ESIG Awards Recipients Announced

URISA is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2013 URISA Exemplary Systems in Government (ESIG) Awards. Since 1980, URISA's ESIG Awards have recognized exceptional achievements in the application of information technology that have improved the delivery and quality of government services.

Enterprise Systems Category
This category recognizes outstanding use of information systems technology in a multidepartment environment as part of an integrated process.

Exemplary System
The GEM Project: Bringing Information to the Emergency Operations Centre (City of Calgary)—Liz Findlay, GEM project sponsor and manager, and Nancy Merritt, geospatial consultant and GEM project adviser, Geospatial Business Solutions Division, Corporate Services, City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada: Using a strategic implementation in a phased approach, the GEM project supports a population of more than one million and a city with more than 14,000 employees.

Distinguished Systems
- Department of Homeland Security Common Operational Picture—David Alexander, director, Geospatial Management Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC

- Department of Homeland Security Geospatial Information Infrastructure—David Alexander, director, Geospatial Management Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC (See "US Department of Homeland Security Simplifies Its Enterprise Mission with WebGIS.") - National Capital Region Geospatial Data Exchange—Robert Horne, GIS Committee chair, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Washington, DC

Single Process System Category
This category recognizes outstanding application of information system technology to automate a specific single process or operation involving one department or subunit of an agency.

Exemplary System
The Transportation Investment Act Process: Georgia Department of Transportation—Jane H. Smith, State Transportation Data Administrator, Georgia Department of Transportation, Chamblee, Georgia: Serving state agencies, 159 counties, and more than 500 cities, the process provides a single, accurate, and up-to-date road database (55,000 miles of road centerline) covering the entire state.

Distinguished System
"Show Me My House" for Snow Ordinance Searches (Des Moines, Iowa)—Anna Whipple, GISP, GIS manager, City of Des Moines, Iowa.

For more information and to read the winning system submissions, visit www.urisa.org/awards/exemplary-systems-in-government.

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Join The 2012 URISA Caribbean GIS Conference

Caribbean GIS professionals will soon convene in Montego Bay, Jamaica for the Sixth URISA Caribbean GIS Conference taking place November 12-16 at the Hilton Rose Hall. From preconference workshops and classes (including two-day ArcGIS Online and Mobile and Server GIS classes and URISA's GIS Program Management and Open Source GIS workshops) to a High Level Caribbean Geospatial Information Management Meeting, the conference showcases the best of GIS in the region. Discounted preconference registration rates expire on November 2.

The objectives of URISA's Caribbean GIS Conference include:
- To inform broad cross-section of Caribbean users about GIS technology and applications
- To share experiences regarding GIS implementation and management issues
- To establish new relationships with the vendor/consultant community
- To provide workshops and sessions that are application driven, and are relevant to the Caribbean community of GIS users
- To foster a Caribbean GIS network
- To assess the state of readiness of national and regional Spatial Data Infrastructures

URISA is pleased to announce three important keynote speakers:

- Wednesday, November 14: Vanessa Lawrence - Director General and Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey, Great Britain's national mapping agency

- Thursday, November 15: Georg Gartner – President, International Cartographic Association

- Friday, November 16: E.G. Hunter – CEO, National Works Agency

A GIS poster competition will take place in memory of long-time committee member and Caribbean GIS advocate, Dr. Edsel Daniel.

More than two dozen sessions will be presented during the conference, including such important and timely topics as:
- Geoinformatics in Disaster Risk Assessment
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Improving Public Health Care
- NSDI Principles and Practices in Small Island Developing States
- Innovative GIS Solutions for Crime and Emergency Management
- Participatory and Open Source GIS Application
- GIS-based Solutions for National Planning and Management

The preconference registration fee increases by $50 after November 2. (A helpful hint: register by November 2 to secure the lower rate and bring payment onsite.)

We thank all of our exhibitors and sponsors in advance including Platinum Sponsor, Thomson Reuters, and Gold Sponsors, Esri and Spatial Innovision.

Don’t miss the best opportunity for GIS education in the Caribbean. For details and registration visit http://www.urisa.org/carib2012

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URISA 2011 Exemplary Systems in Government Award Winners

URISA’s Exemplary Systems in Government (ESIG) Awards recognize exceptional achievements in the application of information technology that have improved the delivery and quality of government services. URISA is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s ESIG Awards.

ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS CATEGORY - Systems in this category are outstanding and working examples of using information systems technology in a multi-department environment as part of an integrated process. These systems exemplify effective use of technology yielding widespread improvements in the process(es) and/or service(s) involved and/or cost savings to the organization.

2011 ESIG Winner: URA Digital 3D Urban Model System

Submitted by Mr. Peter Quek Ser Hwee, Director Corporate Development, Information Systems - Urban Redevelopment Authority, Republic of Singapore

This solution was deemed exemplary by the ESIG Review Committee because this system was built not only to innovatively serve the needs of the jurisdiction and the community, but to embrace a cutting edge technology. The combination of 3D technology with 2D GIS technology has provided URA staff and their community with the tools to visualize the impact of urban development. The visual analysis provides a value added segment to the evaluation processes supporting the most educated decisions when building a greater Singapore. The use of 3D visualization has become a tool for Singapore’s marketing and communication of their land use plans. Quantitative impacts were given in terms of both “man-days” and monies saved to date, along with estimates of future benefits. Many different groups are now making use of the system and specific examples were given of projects/studies that used the system, along with visual representations for each. This is a unique application in that it presented an innovative system for producing visualizations of Singapore. The videos and images produced by the solution portray the vision of and for Singapore. Projects like these move the GIS and planning industries forward.

Distinguished Systems in this Category:

CAGIS Enterprise County Wide Construction Coordination System

Submitted by Raj Chundur, CAGIS Administrator, CAGIS - Cincinnati (Ohio) Area Geographic Information System

City of Calgary Cadastral Management System (CMS)

Submitted by Arne Svedahl, Leader - Land Asset Information & Mapping Infrastructure & Information, Corporate Services - City of Calgary, Alberta, Canada

iMAPS: Using Collaboration and Technology to Color Outside the Organizational Lines

Submitted by Charles Friddle, Director - Wake County (North Carolina) GIS

Portage County Enterprise Wide GIS

Submitted by Brian Kelley, CIO – Portage County (Ohio)

SINGLE PROCESS SYSTEMS CATEGORY - Systems in this category are outstanding and working examples of applying information system technology to automate a specific SINGLE process or operation involving one department or sub-unit of an agency. The system application results in extended and/or improved government services that are more efficient and/or save money.

2011 ESIG Winner: Philadelphia Stormwater Billing Application - "PhillyStormwater"

Submitted by Joanne Dahme, Watersheds Program Manager, City of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Water Department

This solution was deemed exemplary by the ESIG Review Committee because it is an application that has benefited all stakeholders, including both the Philadelphia Water Department staff and the public alike. The System is an application in green storm water management that uses GIS to assess impervious site areas. It gives the public easy access to - and transparency to – storm water charges, and the ability to see the effect on their bills should property owners consider greener strategies. Processes have also been developed to address the data quality and consistency issues as they arise. The PhillyStormwater system has made a substantial impact on the new storm water billing process and saved hundreds of hours for the Water Department staff members per month. The system is the largest of its type in the country and certainly is progressive in the way it charges for storm water management costs.

Distinguished System in this Category:

Clark County Utility Tracker (C-Cut)

Submitted by Dan Kaler, GIS Coordinator – Clark County (Washington)

URISA congratulates all of the participants in the 2011 Exemplary Systems in Government Award program. For more information and to read each winning and distinguished system submission, visit http://www.urisa.org/2011ESIG

All of these exemplary systems will be celebrated during the Awards Breakfast at GIS-Pro 2011: URISA's 49th Annual Conference in Indianapolis on November 3, 2011.

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URISA GIS Hall of Fame Nominations 2011

Nominations for URISA GIS Hall of Fame are being accepted until May 1, 2011. URISA established the GIS Hall of Fame in 2005 to recognize and honor the most esteemed leaders of the geospatial community. To be considered for the GIS Hall of Fame, an individual’s or an organization’s record of contribution to the advancement of the industry demonstrates creative thinking and actions, vision and innovation, inspiring leadership, perseverance, and community mindedness. In addition, nominees must serve as a role model for those who follow. URISA Hall of Fame Laureates are individuals or organizations whose pioneering work has moved the geospatial industry in a better, stronger direction.

URISA welcomes nominations from any profession and is not restricted to those having a past or current relationship with URISA. This award is not given every year, and some years there may be multiple recipients.

The selection criteria for this honor are:

* At least 25 years of sustained professional involvement in the GIS field.
* Original and creative contributions to the field.
* Well known and respected by a wide range of peers.
* Consistent demonstration of sound professional and personal ethics.

Previous inductees include:

* 2005 Inductees: Edgar Horwood, Ian McHarg, Roger Tomlinson, Jack Dangermond, Nancy Tosta, and the Harvard Lab
* 2006 Inductee: Dr. Gary Hunter
* 2007 Inductees: Don Cooke and Michael Goodchild
* 2009 Inductees: Will Craig and Carl Reed
* 2010 Inductee: C. Dana Tomlin

Nominations must be submitted to URISA by May 1. For details and to learn more about current members of URISA’s GIS Hall of Fame, visit the website.

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URISA's GIS Hall of Fame Nominations

Nominations for URISA's GIS Hall of Fame must be submitted by May 1, 2009. The Hall of Fame recognizes and honors the best in GIS. Started in 2005, the URISA GIS Hall of Fame documents the contributions made by key individuals. URISA welcomes nominations from any profession and is not restricted to those having a past or current relationship with URISA. This award is not given every year, and some years there may be multiple recipients.

The selection criteria for this honor are:

* At least 25 years of sustained professional involvement in the GIS field.
* Original and creative contributions to the field.
* Well known and respected by a wide range of peers.
* Consistent demonstration of sound professional and personal ethics.

Previous inductees include:

* 2005 Inductees: Edgar Horwood, Ian McHarg, Roger Tomlinson, Jack Dangermond, Nancy Tosta, and the Harvard Lab
* 2006 Inductee: Dr. Gary Hunter
* 2007 Inductees: Don Cooke and Michael Goodchild

URISA's GIS Hall of Fame nominations must be submitted to URISA by May 1. Visit
www.urisa.org.

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