August 4, 2008
San Diego, California—Blackboard Connect has demonstrated vision and leadership, using ESRI's geographic information system (GIS) technology to better serve the world. To recognize this passionate approach to applying GIS solutions, ESRI will present the organization with the Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award on August 6, 2008, at the 28th Annual ESRI International User Conference (ESRI UC) in San Diego, California.
Blackboard Connect based in California uses ESRI’s ArcGIS Server to provide time- sensitive mass notification services such as evacuation warnings to schools and government agencies. With the GIS software, users can target specific groups or geographic regions, such as neighborhoods, and communicate with recipients. Messages can be sent to a citizen’s landline or cell phone as well as their personal digital assistant, e-mail account, or other text-based devices. Recipients are able to communicate with the system using their telephone keypad to respond to questions posed by the sender. Blackboard Connect uses GIS to help their customers correspond with targeted groups during critical situations.
"At ESRI, we are always deeply impressed by the innovation of our users," says Jack Dangermond, ESRI president. "We want to recognize the efforts of these individuals with our Special Achievement in GIS Award. This recognition is well deserved for how they've applied geospatial technology to address the needs of their industries and communities. They are defining GIS best practices."
GIS combines computer hardware, software, and data to create a tool for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographic information. Virtually any information can be linked to a geographic location, allowing users to see that information as part of a complete picture to be analyzed and applied to a problem or issue. With GIS, people can see firsthand how the world works and changes, view and manage information about locations, analyze spatial relationships, and visualize processes. From underground mine modeling to air traffic control, more than 300,000 organizations worldwide rely on GIS to better analyze their environments and make smarter decisions.
Other organizations being honored at the ESRI UC are Chesapeake Energy, the City of Austin, Forsyth County Schools, Greater New Orleans, Inc., the Marine Advanced Technology Center, the Navajo Department of Transportation, the City Planning Department in Bangkok, Thailand, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, the United Nations Joint Logistics Center, Qatar Petroleum, and more.
To learn more about the 2008 SAG Award winners and to view their photos and project descriptions and images, please visit www.esri.com/sag. More information about ESRI and its GIS solutions can be found at www.esri.com.
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Since 1969, ESRI has been giving customers around the world the power to think and
plan geographically. The market leader in GIS, ESRI software is used in more than
300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the
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