GIS DAY 2006 EVENT -- PRESS RELEASE The City of Salem is hosting a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day exhibit at the state capitol on GIS Day, November 15, 2006.  The exhibit will showcase the use of GIS in the region and will include an open house/map gallery exhibit at the Galleria in the Capitol building.  The City, along with other agencies will display projects demonstrating how GIS is used throughout our region.  Hours for the event will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The exhibit is open to the public at no charge.  Held annually during National Geographic Society’s Geography Awareness Week, GIS Day is a global event celebrating GIS technology, the innovative technology that uses geography to bring countless benefits to the world.  GIS is a computer-based mapping tool that takes information from a database about a location, such as streets, buildings, water features, and terrain, and turns it into visual layers. The ability to see geographic features on a map gives users a better understanding of a particular location, enabling planners, analysts, and others to make better informed decisions about their communities.  GIS touches our lives daily. It is used throughout the world to solve problems related to the environment, health care, land use, business efficiency, education, and public safety. The power supply directed to homes; the patrol cars and fire trucks that keep neighborhoods safe; and, the delivery trucks on the road all function more efficiently because of GIS. This technology can also help businesses place ATMs and restaurants locate at more convenient locations; allow people to pull maps off the Internet; and, help farmers grow more crops with less chemicals. Local use of the technology is extensive.  GIS is used in a “decision support” role to assist policymakers, as well as citizens in making informed choices. The city of Salem uses GIS throughout city government, for example, the Public Works department manages the water, sewer, storm, and transportation systems with it and the Community Enforcement division uses it to track complaints and plan for inspections.  When a citizen makes a complaint, the location is mapped so that tracking and trending of issues and citations can occur.  GIS is used extensively within the City’s public safety departments.  When a call comes in to a 911 dispatcher, the call taker can instantly locate the incident on a computer screen map and GIS will make the most appropriate decision on what units to dispatch.  Salem fire trucks are also equipped with GIS maps, both in hardcopy books and in mobile data terminals.  The Salem Police Department is also spatially enabled and reaps direct benefits from GIS. County and state government also rely on GIS technology to support decision-making.  The states geospatial enterprise office (GEO) is involved in the GIS Day event at the Capitol as well as many other state departments, and other local government entities including Marion County, and the Council of Governments.  There are even some federal participants, including the United States Geological Survey. GIS Day is principally sponsored by the National Geographic Society, the Association of American Geographers, the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science, the United States Geological Survey, the Library of Congress, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett–Packard, and Environmental Systems Research Institute.  Local sponsors include Croissant & Company, Salem Blue, GeoNorth, Razzle Dazzle, GeoEngineers, and Women in GIS (WIGIS).  WIGIS promotes and enhances the personal and professional careers of women in the field of GIS.  Please join us at GIS Day.   If you would like to visit the capitol GIS Day event with a group, please RSVP at gis@cityofsalem.net so we can plan for your arrival.  School classes are also encouraged to visit, as well as individuals from the participating agencies.  See you at GIS Day at the Capitol, Wednesday, November 15, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.