World GIS Day 2016: One Map Sri Lanka Competition

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Day provides an international forum for users of 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 (Acronym for Environmental Systems Research Institute – USA) 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.

World GIS Day (Geographical Information System) Day is celebrated around the world every year on the third Wednesday of the month of November as a part of National Geographic’s and Geographical awareness week. This year it falls on 16 November – for which information and material can be found at www.gisday.com.

GIS Solutions Ltd., as the Sole Authorised Distributor for ESRI takes World GIS on to promote the use  and value of maps and mapping technology for the general public of Sri Lanka, especially amongst school children. 

To create awareness about World GIS day 2016, GIS Solutions is conducting a competition that involves mapping interesting and historically important places onto a digital map. This is the second year consecutively this will be conducted – an island-wide competition titled ‘One Map Sri Lanka’ and targeting two groups;

nProfessional GIS Users and GIS Technologists 

nG.C.E. (Advanced Level) Geography students 

They are required to send in digitally (i.e. via email) a picture of a place/location that they considered to have some historical/cultural/environmental significance or importance from their own surroundings, along with an; interesting 50 word description, corresponding longitude and latitude exact coordinates (Geo coordinates),and their own details. All entries should be emailed to; [email protected].

For school children, this program will be conducted through the schools themselves.

Last year they received over 600+ entries of a very high standard from students from all across the country, with the majority being from outstation. The top 200 entries were awarded with certificates and gifts. For the competition amongst adults and the Professional Users of ArcGIS Technology, we received very positive responses as well from which the best three entries were awarded with cash prizes and certificates. This is the fourth year GIS Solutions is running this style of competition to commemorate ‘World GIS Day’ and we are highly encouraged by the responses received over the last few years.

All entries received will be added on to a Special Sri Lanka Digital GIS Map called, ‘One Map Sri Lanka’, which will be launched at this year’s upcoming World GIS Day event.

GIS is considered one of the three growth areas of ICT and it is a technology that can be used across all industries; to plan, manage assets, make right decisions, save time and money, collaborate and work more efficiently and optimise on resources. Many career paths are there for those who pursue GIS as a career and it’s a high demand profession both locally and globally. Developed nations reap the full benefits of GIS at a high growth rate. 

GIS and Spatial Data is such an important aspect for the countries development that the Government of Sri Lanka has launched an initiative to necessitate a National Spatial Data Infrastructure for the nation. GIS Solutions’ vision is to help our nation reap the full benefits of GIS technology, to take Sri Lanka to the next level. GIS Solutions sees its mission as ‘Enhancing Life through Geo Information technology’. World GIS Day – Discovering the World Through GIS.