City of Toronto Receives GITA’s Innovator Award

San Antonio, Texas, March 5, 2007—The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) announced today that the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was named the recipient of the 2007 GITA Innovator Award. The award recognizes the unique and significant contributions of organizations that have used geospatial technology in the innovative development of a technology, service, or application. The award was presented during GITA’s Annual Conference 30, being held March 4-7, 2007, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Enterprise Stereoscopic Model (ESM) Web was developed to provide average and technical users of mapping information with highly accurate aerial photography (current and historical) and the ability to collect site/object specific information in 3-D.

ESM Web has up to 15-cm accuracy, and enables the viewing and measurement of objects in 3-D while viewing the images with a pair of 3-D glasses or stereoscope. Historical land information is more accurate and reliable as users can take their own 3-D measurements from the fully geo-referenced images dating back to 1931. They can also search and overlay maps from today’s buildings, roads, and properties over the historical images to visualize trends and land use changes between years..

“The GITA Innovator Award is a testament to ESM Web’s successes, and recognizes the intellectual curiosity and critical thinking required by Survey and Mapping Services staff to provide world-class products and services to our business units,” said Bob Gaspirc, manager, Mapping Services, City of Toronto.

For more information about GITA’s Awards Program, visit http://gita.org/about-gita/awards_program/index.asp, call 303-337-0513, or e-mail info@gita.org.

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About GITA:

The mission of the Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) is to provide excellence in education, information exchange and applied research on the use and benefits of geospatial information and technology in business, utility and government applications worldwide. GITA’s Annual Conference 30 will be held March 4-7, 2007, in San Antonio, Texas. Visit GITA on the Web at www.gita.org.