Aurora, Colo., April 25, 2011—GITA is pleased to announce the 2011 Innovator and Excellence Award winners from its recent Geospatial Solutions Conference in Grapevine (Dallas), TX. These awards recognize the special achievements of organizations actively utilizing geospatial technologies and those keeping pace with changes in the industry.
The City of Brampton received the 2011 Innovator Award for recently transforming internal and external websites to Citizen Service Platform (CSP), allowing staff to self-maintain content, and enabling citizen access to current and relevant information. The city’s existing webmap portal, www.bramptonmaps.ca, was revamped using Visual Fusion, a product by IDV solutions, which took advantage of Bing Maps interface that displays spatial and non-spatial data from different sources, including ORACLE 10g, GeoRSS feeds and SharePoint Lists/Libraries. The result is an intelligent, interactive and intuitive mapping and spatial web service toolkit. This new mapping service was delivered by one developer and one designer in just three months. “The City of Brampton is committed to delivering innovative solutions that transform and drive customer service excellence—especially for an emerging demographic group of young, mobile information workers who expect the same level of customer service that they get in the private commercial sector. It is an honor to be recognized by GITA internationally through this award,” said Rob Meikle, Chief Information Officer.
The 2011 Excellence Award went to the Denver Regional Council of Governments for The Denver Regional Solar Map. This new website was developed with funding from a New Energy Economic Development grant through the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office. The site lets users easily locate their properties and explore the benefits of solar PV installation, and allows solar installers login access to respond to consumer inquiries. DRCOG expects the project to not only bolster adoption of renewable energy in the region, but also create jobs by connecting contractors to building owners. Installers are actively using the site to respond to consumer inquiries. The site is unique in enabling users to immediately calculate maximum potential solar system size, how much electricity a system would generate and potential cost savings. In addition, the site links consumers directly with installers. The spatial data that drives the application comprises more than 800,000 building footprints. DRCOG developed this data in collaboration with various partners, including many of DRCOG’s 56 member governments that make up the region’s towns, cities and counties. “DRCOG is extremely proud of the Denver Regional Solar Map because it demonstrates solar energy’s potential for more sustainable communities and meshes public and private sector talents to meet the economy’s critical need for job creation,” said Jennifer Schaufele, Executive Director.
The 2011 Speaker Award winners will be announced in the coming weeks.
Want the chance to win an award? The Call for Presentations for GITA’s GIS for Oil and Gas Pipeline Conference is open until May 6. Submit your abstract today. More information can be found at www.gita.org/oilgas. The conference will be held at the Marriott Westchase Hotel in Houston, TX, October 24-27, 2011.
About GITA
The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) is the professional association and leading advocate for anyone using geospatial technology to help operate, maintain, and protect the infrastructure, which includes organizations such as utilities, telecommunication companies, and the public sector. Through industry leading conferences—along with research initiatives, chapters, membership, and other programs—GITA provides education and professional best practices. Visit GITA at www.gita.org.