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Johnston County Technology Services Department will be celebrating GIS Day on November 14, 2007.
Held each year on the Wednesday of National Geographic Society's Geography 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 provides an opportunity for those curious about GIS to see its applications in action.{quotes align=right} A GIS is a computer-based mapping tool{/quotes} 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.
Although you may not be aware of it, GIS touches our lives daily. It is used throughout the world to solve problems related to the environment, health care, land use, business efficiency, education and public safety. {quotes align=left} In Johnston County, GIS is used in all aspects of the government.{/quotes}For instance, it is used to dispatch emergency services from 911, to assist in property tax listing, to help citizens and business owners find out a plethora of information on property or areas (http://www.johnstonnc.com/mapclick), to determine areas prone to flooding, to help public utility officials determine information about infrastructure out in the field, and to determine call areas in reverse 911 situations.
Nationwide, we have seen how GIS technology was 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 applications of GIS technology are endless, limited only by the imagination of its users. From border patrol agents to doctors, and from federal employees to local city planners, people in nearly every profession all over the world are reaping the benefits of this extraordinary technology.
Johnston County Technology Services Department invites everyone to visit and explore our new GIS Day page at http://www.johnstonnc.com/gis. Here you can learn more about GIS, participate in a coloring contest with prizes for the winners, and take part in a geocaching (treasure hunt utilizing GPS technology) event with the chance to win a $100 Walmart gift card.