Statement by: Deputy Premier and Minister of District Administration, Works, Lands and Works Honourable Juliana, O’Connor-Connolly

Today, 14 November, is National Geographic Information System (GIS) Day and as Minister responsible for Lands and Survey, I would like to take this opportunity to raise awareness of why the National GIS system is important and its many uses. I hope this information will also serve to attract young Caymanians to this ever-growing field.

This week, the Lands and Survey Department is hosting its first annual GIS Day celebration during Geography Awareness Week (November 12-16), and will mark its observance on both Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. We are celebrating GIS Day as an educational event to introduce students to GIS and GIS-related careers. The Grand Cayman event will take place at the Clifton Hunter High School on 14 November and the Cayman Brac event will be at the Layman E. Scott, Sr. High School on 16 November.

The GIS is designed to capture, store, analyze, manage and present all types of geographical data. GIS merges a number of software applications and maps such as Global Posting Systems (GPS), cartography, statistical analysis and database technology to provide a complete picture. Believe it or not, it has been around since 1832 when a French geographer, Charles Picquet, used spatial analysis to discover the contaminated water source that led to the outbreak of cholera in Paris.

Since then, GIS has evolved into many real-world applications that make a difference in our everyday lives. In the Cayman Islands, GIS is used by many Government Departments. These include 911 to locate residents, the police to track crime, the Department of Agriculture to keep track of pests, Mosquito Research and Control Unit for specific areas of spray, HMCI to respond to hazardous events, Department of Environment, Lands and Survey as well as many private businesses to keep track of their cars. Real estate agents also use GIS to locate land parcels as well as to keep track of property sales and valuations.  In other words, GIS has many important applications and is a useful tool in critical areas such as hazard mitigation and planning.

I hope that all residents, and in particular, parents and students, will join in the observance of National GIS Day and learn more about the useful role that GIS plays in all our lives. Happy GIS Day!

About GIS Day

GIS Day provides an international forum for users of geographic information systems (GIS) technology to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society.

The first formal GIS Day took place in 1999. Esri president and co-founder Jack Dangermond credits Ralph Nader with being the person who inspired the creation of GIS Day. He considered GIS Day a good initiative for people to learn about geography and the uses of GIS. He wanted GIS Day to be a grassroots effort and open to everyone to participate.

GIS Day is One Fun Day to

• Celebrate GIS with everyone
• Discover and explore the benefits of GIS
• Showcase the uses of GIS
• Build and nurture your GIS community