[E-updates] City to host open house to display GIS technology

[Lisa Patterson]

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CITY OF LAWRENCE

November 13, 2003

CONTACT:  Bryce Hirschman, GIS coordinator
(785) 832-3325

City to host open house to display GIS technology

(Lawrence, Ks) - The City of Lawrence invites the community to a geographic
information system (GIS) open house.  Used by departments throughout the
City of Lawrence, GIS provides computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing
objects and events on a range of topics from streets and park facilities to
utility lines and beyond.  GIS is used in multiple capacities in daily city
activities, including identifying proportions used in a benefit district,
notifying residences of street construction and development projects within
a given area and dispatching police and fire calls.  

As part of nationwide event to promote awareness of GIS, city staff will
display the technology and demonstrate existing uses on Wednesday, November
19 from 1:30 to 4:30p.m. in the City Commission room at City Hall, 6 East
Sixth Street.  

"GIS is a technical tool that can go unrecognized in our daily operation.
Most people are unaware of the benefits they receive from GIS, but the
importance of pulling together multiple pieces of information into one
system provides analysis at a speed once impossible when recorded by hand.
Participating in the nationwide day is an opportunity for GIS professionals
to demonstrate the impact of technology with the community," explains Bryce
Hirschman, GIS coordinator for the City of Lawrence.

The open house will feature several programs currently being used by the
City of Lawrence.  Those programs include viewing and zooming of aerial
photos of the city; a database of sanitary sewer lines; record of paved
streets; displaying zoning maps, park maps, water distribution maps and
sewer distribution maps and displaying of census data.

In addition to the afternoon open house, city GIS professionals will
participate in a GIS symposium hosted by the University of Kansas and
provide a presentation on municipal GIS.

-END-


_____________________________
Lisa K. Patterson
Communications Coordinator
City of Lawrence
PO Box 708
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 832-3406
fax (785) 832-3405
lpatterson@ci.lawrence.ks.us
http://www.lawrenceks.org