ESRI FIG Grant Offered to Higher Education Institutions

Grant Program Created by ESRI and the International Federation of Surveyors to Offer the Latest GIS Technology and Tools

Redlands, California, May 29, 2003 - To encourage and support the utilization of geographic information system (GIS) technology in higher education, ESRI, the world leader in GIS technology, along with the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG), is offering a $7 million grant program. All domestic and international two- and four-year colleges and universities with surveying and engineering programs are being offered the opportunity to receive GIS software and training grants. The program will provide assistance to institutions in developing and offering software and training programs in GIS technologies.

Implementation of the program's features will provide access to spatial analysis technology, making it easier for institutions to promote the use of GIS technology and advance their use of measurement-based data in a GIS. The technology offered through the program provides the latest tools for establishing an effective teaching program in geographic information science.

The software, provided by ESRI, allows installation of up to 25 copies of ArcGIS in a single computer lab and will include

· ArcView 8.x
· ArcGIS Survey Analyst 8.x
· ArcGIS Spatial Analyst 8.x
· ArcGIS 3D Analyst 8.x
· ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst 8.x

The training program provided for the winners is an ESRI Virtual Campus Standard Subscription, including all self-study ESRI-authored Virtual Campus courses and the ESRI Press titles Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop and Surveying and GIS.
Although the program application is open to all qualifying colleges and universities across the world, institutions without an established program teaching the use of GIS, those demonstrating collaborative efforts with multiple departments, and institutions not currently using ESRI software will receive priority consideration.

Institutions applying by June 3, 2002, will be considered for the first phase of awards, while those applying by October 21, 2002, will be in the second phase. For more information and to apply for the grant visit us and click on Grant Program, or e-mail Milton Ospina.

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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 1,400 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.

ESRI, the ESRI globe logo, ArcGIS, ArcView, 3D Analyst, ArcInfo, 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.