Santa Barbara County was recognized on Aug. 6 for its use of the geographic information system (GIS), by the company that makes it, ESRI. The award was presented at the 28th Annual ESRI International User Conference in San Diego.
GIS combines computer hardware, software, and data to create a tool for analyzing and displaying geographic information. The county uses GIS at its Emergency Operations Center, in public safety departments, and in planning development. The maps provided by the system helped in the decision-making process during the Zaca Fire and the Gap Fire, according to a news release.
During the Zaca Fire, the organization partnered with CalFire to develop the Front Country Plan, which divided the entire South Coast area into battle divisions and grids detailed to street level. During the recent Gap Fire, emergency personnel again referred to the Front Country Plan as the wildfire burned close to the edges of homes and prompted evacuation.
“At ESRI, we are always deeply impressed by the innovation of our users,” Jack Dangermond, ESRI president, said in the release.
Biz Briefs is compiled by Sports Editor Sarah E. Thien. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Aug 14-21, 2008.