NewsBreak

ESRI Unveils Series of Homeland Security Initiatives

ESRI to Provide Grants, Education, Training, and More as Part of Its Homeland Security Support for Government, Private Organizations

REDLANDS, California, March 22, 2002 - ESRI today unveiled a series of Homeland Security initiatives, including technology grants, training, and advanced educational materials, for local, state, and federal government agencies and private organizations. To help people involved in homeland security, ESRI has created a Web site located at www.esri.com/homelandsecurity. 

ESRI's dynamic program is in part the result of a large, strategic summit with top technology, government, and private officials in health; fire; law enforcement; emergency response; and local, state, and federal government. The summit was held at ESRI's headquarters in Redlands, California, to determine homeland security needs and develop processes for planning, preparedness, and response to homeland security threats. 

"We at ESRI are working to support government agencies and organizations at all levels by leveraging our existing relationships and expanding those relationships, integrating people, technology, and information in a way never before achieved," says Jack Dangermond, president, ESRI. "Homeland security is of paramount importance to our nation, and ESRI is committed to supporting this in any way possible." "We have a framework for thinking both locally and nationally about homeland security, whether it's for small rural communities or large urban areas," says Russ Johnson, public safety industry manager. "These new initiatives are key to dispersing the knowledge, skills, and tools vital to homeland security. They are also an important vehicle for bringing people together and utilizing the synergy that results." New initiatives unveiled include the following:

A Technology Grant Program for Agencies of All Sizes 

ESRI is contributing 100 copies of geographic information system (GIS) software for U.S. cities under 100,000 people. ESRI is also using an application process to award ten enterprise GIS software grants to large government agencies. The grants will consist of software, training, and support. GIS is critical to homeland security because it enables integration of all types of information. Data from entities, such as water, sewer, utility, law enforcement, fire, health, and building and safety can be easily integrated using GIS. This type of data sharing, analysis, and graphic representation speeds understanding of vulnerabilities, enhances event management, and improves the decision making process at all levels of response. The grant program will provide a means for agencies of all sizes to utilize the power of GIS to conduct risk assessment, mitigation needs, preparedness analysis, and response assessment and to share data.

Homeland Security Seminars 

Seminars on the use of GIS for homeland security will be offered at a number of cities across the country. These seminars will target the agencies and departments involved, including public works, health, utilities, agriculture, police, and fire-and will cover risk assessment, planning, mitigation, and response.

White Papers and Educational Materials 

Working with leaders in technology and dozens of industries, ESRI is releasing a series of comprehensive white papers related to GIS and homeland security. These include GIS for Homeland Security and the soon to be released GIS for Homeland Security, Planning Process-How to Do Planning with GIS and Bioterrorism Surveillance And Response Analysis Systems. ESRI's GIS for Homeland Security brochure provides information on creating a homeland security response plan and how GIS can be a core, unifying technology in this effort. A multimedia CD will be available that provides homeland security information that includes interviews with leading homeland security experts.

For More Information on ESRI's Homeland Security Initiatives Visit www.esri.com/homelandsecurity   for specific information on ESRI's new homeland security initiatives. Site visitors can apply for the technology grant program, register for the nearest homeland security seminar, obtain white papers and educational materials, and much more.

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For more than 30 years, ESRI has been the leading developer of GIS software with more than 300,000 clients worldwide. ESRI also provides consulting, implementation, and technical support services. In addition to its headquarters in California, ESRI has regional offices throughout the United States, international distributors in more than 90 countries, and more than 1,300 business partners. ESRI's goal is to provide users with comprehensive tools to help them quickly and efficiently manage and use geographic information to make a real difference in the world around them. ESRI can be found on the Web at www.esri.com. 

ESRI, the ESRI globe logo, GIS by ESRI, www.esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of ESRI in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.

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Source: Material used in press releases is often supplied by external sources and used as is.