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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2005
Contact: Steve Schunzel, GIS Analyst, Information Systems Department/GIS
Phone: 360-337-4552
No. 05-18
County Courthouse Display Celebrates
GIS Day
PORT ORCHARD, WA—In
celebration of National GIS (Geographic Information System) Day and
Geography Awareness Week, Kitsap County will host a display and map gallery
in the County Courthouse the week of November 13–19.
GIS Day, a yearly
celebration held on Wednesday during National Geographic Society’s Geography
Awareness Week, is a global event that celebrates GIS, the innovative
technology that uses geography to bring countless benefits to the world. GIS
Day provides an opportunity for those curious about GIS to see its
applications in action. GIS is a computer-based mapping tool that takes
information from a database about a location, such as streets, buildings,
water features and terrain, and turns it into visual layers. The ability to
see geographic features on a map gives users a better understanding of a
particular location, which enables planners, analysts and others to make
informed decisions about their communities.
Although some may not be
aware of it, GIS touches our lives daily. It is used throughout the world to
solve problems related to the environment, healthcare, land use, business
efficiency, education and public safety. The power supply directed to homes,
the patrol cars and fire trucks that keep neighborhoods safe and the
delivery trucks on the road all function more efficiently because of GIS.
This technology can also help businesses place ATMs and restaurants at more
convenient locations, allow people to pull maps off the Internet and help
farmers grow more crops with less chemicals.
GIS Day serves to make
people aware of GIS technology and the important contributions it is making
in the fields of science, technology, information and the humanities. It is
a grassroots event and a reflection of the enthusiasm and commitment of
individual GIS users everywhere.
GIS
Day is principally sponsored by the National Geographic Society, the
Association of American Geographers, University Consortium for Geographic
Information Science, United States Geological Survey, the Library of
Congress, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett–Packard, and ESRI.
Kitsap County uses GIS
in many county departments, including Information Services, Public Works,
Community Development, Assessor’s Office and Auditor’s Office. GIS Day
provides an opportunity for each department to showcase some of their finest
accomplishments in GIS, including maps and computer applications. Be sure to
stop by and take a look at some of the handiwork of the county’s GIS
professionals.
GIS Day and
www.gisday.com are registered trademarks or service marks of ESRI in the
United States, the European community or certain other jurisdictions. Other
companies and products mentioned herein are registered trademarks of their
respective trademark owners.
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