Only One in Kentucky
The NKAPC is Kentucky’s sole recipient of the 2005 Special Achievement in GIS award for LINK-GIS’ efforts in fostering regional cooperation. LINK-GIS received the award on NKAPC’s behalf at the 25th Annual Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) International User Conference in San Diego on July 27. It was selected from more than 150,000 organizations worldwide.
What is GIS? GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems, a computerized mapping system. What started as a partnership of four entities wanting to locate underground utilities has grown into a full-service GIS provider for Kenton, Campbell and Pendleton Counties. LINK-GIS services city and county agencies, including fire and EMS, water and sanitation districts, property valuation, school districts, area businesses and residents.
ESRI gives the Special Achievement in GIS Award to one organization in each state that has made extraordinary contributions to the global society and set new precedents throughout the GIS community.
“The organizations winning this award have used GIS to produce profound work that benefits their businesses as well as the world around them,” said Jack Dangermond, ESRI president. “They deserve to be recognized for the dedication and diligence apparent through their work with GIS.”
“When government agencies, planners, or development professionals work on regional projects, it is imperative that they are using the most accurate information possible,” said Trisha Brush, Deputy Director for GIS Administration, a department of NKAPC. “By working with numerous stakeholders in the community, we’ve been able to make the system easy for everyone.”
Earlier this year, LINK-GIS received Kentucky’s 2005 EQC Earth Day Award for its work compiling an inventory of Brownfield sites, such as former gas stations or railway yards, for Kenton County. That model is now being used statewide. More recently, LINK-GIS made more than 320 square miles of color digital aerial photography available via its web site located at www.linkgis.org.