What is GIS Day?

GIS Day is a global event during which GIS users work to expand the understanding of how GIS technology and geography make a difference in our lives. GIS, a computer-basedtool used to map and analyze features and events, combines the power of a database with the visualization capabilities offered by maps. Hundreds of thousands of people in the world use GIS to solve problems in areas such as environmental protection, pollution, health care, land use, asset deployment and routing, natural resources, conservation, business efficiency, education and social inequities.

Fairfax County will be celebrating its 10th Anniversry of holding GIS Day events. You can see photos and GIS Award winners of the nine previous GIS Days at the County by clicking here. Please see the information below about this year's events and GIS Excellence Awards ceremony.

What is GIS?

GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems. It is a computer-based tool used to map and analyze objects and events. It combines the power of a database with the visualization capabilities offered by maps. This helps analysts discover relationships between and among sets of computer-readable, geographically referenced data that they could not see or understand easily without the aid of this technology. More than half a million people in the world use GIS to solve problems in areas such as environmental protection, pollution, health care, land use, asset deployment and routing, natural resources, conservation, business efficiency, education and social inequities.

GIS Day 2008 in Fairfax County

On Wednesday, Nov. 19th, Fairfax County government agencies will showcase their achievements and educate their peers and the public about their use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Activities will include the annual GIS Day Excellence Awards; GIS exhibitors from numerous county agencies; live demonstrations of GIS products, services and internal business processes; the GIS Excellence Awards Map Gallery; and drawings for GIS Day t-shirts and hats throughout the day. All GIS Day activities will be held 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA.

Agency Exhibitors - Demonstrations, Presentations, Map And Project Displays

Vote for the best exhibitor! Your votes will determine the winner of the Best GIS Day Exhibit!

Previous Exhibitors:

• Community Revitalization & Reinvestment
• Fire & Rescue
• Health
• Housing & Community Development
• Information Technology
• Land Development Services (DPWES)
• Northern Virginia Soil & Water Conservation District
• Emergency Management
• Park Authority
• Planning and Zoning
• Police
• Schools
• Stormwater Management (DPWES)
• Stormwater Planning (DPWES)
• Transportation
• Urban Forestry (DPWES)
• Wastewater (DPWES)

Drawings for GIS Day T-shirts & Hats

Welcome table @ 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. Be sure to register. One entry will qualify you for every drawing.

Gallery of Maps

All map submissions for the GIS Excellence Awards competition will be on display. Vote for the best GIS map! Your votes will determine the winner of the Peoples' Choice Award.

GIS Excellence Awards

The GIS Excellence Awards recognize individual county employees, teams, and departments who have demonstrated exceptional utilization of the County’s GIS. Winners will have used GIS to improve business processes, perform geographic analysis, visualize projects, improve efficiency, and communicate with the public. The GIS Excellence Awards presentation ceremony will take place on GIS Day from 11 a.m. to noon in conference room 120C of the Government Center.

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Team or Individual Categories

• Best GIS Cartographic Product or Presentation (1st, 2nd, & 3rd places)
• Best Use of GIS for Analysis (1st, 2nd, & 3rd places)

Agency Categories (one award per category):

• Best Use of GIS on the Web
• Best Use of GIS for Public Outreach
• Most Significant Data Contributor
• Best GIS Integration or ApplicationDevelopment
• Most Significant Progress

 

FAIRFAX COUNTY'S PAST GIS DAY CELEBRATIONS:

To learn more about other GIS Day events, visit the official national GIS Day web site.