CITY OF MIDLAND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

SYSTEM EARNS STATEWIDE RECOGNITION

May 14, 2010 – The City of Midland’s Geographic Information System (GIS) has received an award from IMAGIN for outstanding efforts to make GIS data accessible to the public.

The GIS for Everyone award was presented to the City during a May 4 conference in Lansing, MI, held through IMAGIN (Improving Michigan’s Access to Geographic Information Networks), a statewide organization involved with professional development.

IMAGIN heralded Midland’s web-based interactive mapping application for its tremendous wealth of information, including layers of data involving assessing, planning, utilities, public services, public safety, and parks. GIS’s easy-to-use search feature was also highlighted, as was the ease with which City employees and citizens are able to access property and utility information.

IMAGIN also pointed out the effectiveness of the application’s mailing label tool, which allows City workers and citizens to generate a list of names and addresses for specific areas of the city. This is a helpful time-saving feature for City staff: what used to take several hours to accomplish can now be done in a matter of minutes.

The system’s ability to create and print out maps of specific portions of the city was also mentioned as a key feature.

“With each new layer of information that’s added, GIS continues to be an impressive and efficient tool for our employees and Midland residents,” said City Manager Jon Lynch. “Our Information Services Department should be proud of their hard work and efforts to create such a useful tool that saves time and makes information-gathering easier.”

For more information, visit the City of Midland website (www.midland-mi.org) or call Information Services at 989-837-3363.

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