'GIS Day' to Showcase Cutting-Edge Technologies and Jobs

Free Educational Event Hosted by Commonwealth and HACC, Nov. 17

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Computer-based mapping applications are now part of our day-to-day lives and there are promising career opportunities for workers with the skills to create and manage them.  

The public can learn more about geospatial information systems at GIS Day, a free, daylong event hosted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Harrisburg Area Community College from 9 a.m.–7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17.

The event takes place at HACC's Midtown II site, 1500 N. Third St., Harrisburg. Free parking is available off Reily Street, between Third and Fourth streets.

Governor Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed Nov. 17 as "GIS Day" in Pennsylvania.

GIS Day will include demonstrations of GIS applications by Pennsylvania companies and state agencies, as well as a look at the software tools used to develop them.  There will also be information about GIS careers.  

"The commonwealth relies on GIS applications to provide vital information and services, such as helping new businesses determine where to locate facilities in Pennsylvania, allowing visitors and residents to plan the perfect PA getaway, providing information about broadband Internet access in local communities and much more," said Secretary of Administration Christian Soura. "It is a powerful tool with enormous possibilities."

The Office of Administration's Geospatial Technologies Office provides a variety of GIS-related services to state agencies, local governments, schools and first responders, including GIS data and software licenses; application, data and Web hosting; address verification and geocoding; and governance of GIS initiatives.

In addition, OA's Office of Public Safety Radio Services earned a 2010 Special Achievement in GIS Award from the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI). The office operates the digital wireless voice and data network used by the State Police, PennDOT and others for emergency and public safety communications. It developed a GIS-based tool to provide users with maps of tower outages due to scheduled maintenance, as well as unexpected outages from lightning strikes, vandalism and other causes.  

Just this week, the Department of Community and Economic Development launched an interactive online map to provide information on broadband Internet providers, availability and connection speed at www.broadbandinpa.com. The data will also be part of the national broadband map to be launched by the U.S. Department of Commerce in February 2011.  

Media contact: Dan Egan, 717-772-4237

Editor's Note: The text of the Governor's proclamation follows:

Geospatial Information Systems Day 2010 - November 17, 2010

WHEREAS, geospatial technologies are used for visualization, measurement, and analysis of geographic data in support of public safety, health and human services, environmental protection, and general government operations in the commonwealth; and

WHEREAS; geospatial technologies support the accurate and rapid deployment of commonwealth vehicles such as snow plows, satellite communications trucks, all-terrain vehicles and State Police cruisers during emergencies and other events; and

WHEREAS, spatial analysis applications built using geospatial technologies help citizens locate a variety of public welfare services in their communities such as child care centers, personal care homes and employment and training programs; and

WHEREAS, Web-based mapping applications provide the citizens of the commonwealth with access to a wide variety of geographic data, such as road and weather conditions, the locations of historical and recreational destinations, broadband service availability and much more; and

WHEREAS, geospatial technologies provide a means to visually communicate stimulus investments that are designed to temper the effects of an economic recession and position the commonwealth for prosperity in the future; and

WHEREAS, geospatial technologies are required to uphold the implementation and maintenance of the state broadband mapping inventory enacted under Act 183 of 2004 , more commonly referred to as reauthorization of Chapter 30 of state Public Utility Code (66 Pa. C.S. P.L. 1398); and

WHEREAS, the commonwealth's Geospatial Technologies Office enhances the commonwealth's geospatial preparedness; provides GIS applications, data and website hosting for commonwealth agencies; coordinates agency and state government-wide geospatial initiatives, and facilitates geospatial interoperability and data sharing across all levels of government; and

WHEREAS, GIS Day provides an international forum for users of geospatial information systems (GIS) technology to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society.

THEREFORE, I, Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim November 17, 2010 as GIS Day.

Given under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, on this tenth day of November in the year of our Lord two thousand and ten, and of the Commonwealth the three hundred and twenty-first.  

EDWARD G. RENDELL, Governor

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of Administration