A virtual display showcasing works done by the BVI National Geographic Information Systems (NGIS) committee was the highlight of activities to observe GIS Day.

National Geographic Information Systems Coordinator in the Town and Country Planning Department, Mr. Troy Dawson said GIS Day is observed annually in November and applauded the initiative of the virtual display. He said it gave persons an appreciation of the GIS software and its use.

“I am happy to see the efforts from the NGIS committee to put together a virtual composite display, which highlights the different applications in the usage of the GIS software, and to also highlight GIS Day, which is such an important time on the calendar for the Town and Country Planning Department and all the NGIS stakeholders,” the coordinator added.

Mr. Dawson further urged persons to visit the virtual display at bvimapping.gov.vg/GISDAY2019 and get a full appreciation of the works done by the BVI NGIS committee.

GIS DAY is an event that formalises the practice of Geographic Information Systems.  It is also an opportunity where users and vendors open their doors to schools, businesses and the public to showcase real-world applications of this important technology.

The system uses computers and software to highlight the fundamental principle of geography and represents features on the earth such as buildings, ghuts and roads.  The computer-based mapping tool also takes information from a database such as location, streets, parcel number, buildings, terrain, and other physical elements and depicts them as visual layers. 

This technology also enables planners and analysts to make more informed decisions where their communities are concerned.

Departments or agencies which use GIS include the National Parks Trust, Water and Sewage Department, Public Works Department, Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue, Environmental Health Division, Land Registry, Inland Revenue, Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Environmental Management, 911 Dispatch, Survey Department and the Department of Disaster Management.

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the first formal GIS Day in the Virgin Islands. The day was first observed in 1999. GIS Day is a global event held each year that strives to makes people aware of GIS technology and the important contributions it makes in the fields of science, technology, information, and the humanities. 

The BVI can be seen on the world map of one of the few countries formally registered for GIS DAY at (www.gisday.com).