Town of Ogden sponsors GIS day events

Town of Ogden sponsors GIS day events

The Town of Ogden will have an open house on GIS Day, November 16. A celebration of "GIS in Ogden" will begin with an open house at the Ogden Highway Facility, 269 Ogden Center Road, Spencerport from 2 to 8 p.m. Giveaways, map demonstrations, digital aerial photography, GIS projects and refreshments will be offered. There will also be displays of more than 6,930 pictures of local buildings.

Held each year on the Wednesday of National Geographic Society's Awareness Week, GIS Day is a global event that celebrates geographic information system (GIS) technology, the innovative technology that uses geography to bring countless benefits to the world. GIS Day in Ogden provides an opportunity for those curious about GIS to see its applications in action. A 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, enabling planners, analysts and others to make informed decisions about their communities.

GIS is used throughout the world to solve problems related to the environment, health care, land use, business efficiency, education and public safety. The power supply directed to homes, the patrol cars, fire trucks and ambulances that keep neighborhoods safe and the delivery trucks 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. Most recently GIS technology has been used to aid Homeland Security initiatives, map the debris field following the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy, and monitor the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

The Ogden Town Board adopted a resolution on November 9 declaring November 16 as "GIS Day in Ogden." Ogden/Spencerport Community groups are welcome and encouraged to attend this event.

For information go to http://www.ogdenny.com/OgdenGis.htm.