Ducks Unlimited Receives Honors for Accomplishments With GIS Technology

Ducks Unlimited
Tuesday, 8 July 2003

Ducks Unlimited (DU) will be honored on July 10, 2003, with a Special Achievement in GIS award from Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), the world leader in geographic information system (GIS) software. Selected from more than 100,000 organizations worldwide, winners of this award have displayed extraordinary use of GIS technology. ESRI will honor these organizations at the Twenty-third Annual ESRI International User Conference in San Diego, California, among thousands of GIS professionals.

DU of the future: Using new GIS technologies, such as this image of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, assists DU with conservation planning.

"The outstanding work of the Special Achievement award winners is inspirational," said Jack Dangermond, ESRI president. "These organizations have embraced GIS technology and used it to bring real benefits to the people they serve."

A 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 informed decisions about their communities.

DU is being recognized for utilizing GIS technologies to better enhance and improve its conservation mission. Chris Baker, GIS manager for DU in Memphis, TN, was thrilled to learn the news, "This is a great honor for the GIS department at DU and a source of pride. It also puts our efforts in the National and International spotlight as a leading edge organization."

"This honor highlights to the world how DU is pioneering the latest technologies to deliver one of the most effective conservation programs," said Don Young, DU’s executive vice president. He added, "ESRI is a global leader in the spatial data arena and thus their recognition of DU is truly of significance given their large and diverse client base."

DU biologists and engineers use GIS technology in the field as a conservation planning tool to: monitor and track wetlands, assess waterfowl breeding and wintering habitat, test water quality, and map new project areas.

For more information, or to contact Ducks Unlimited, see their website at: www.ducks.org