Dr. Gladys West’s pioneering work in satellite altimeter data analysis and the development of complex algorithms laid the foundation for the precise calculations that enable GPS technology—a cornerstone of modern geospatial science and daily life. Her career, spanning over four decades at the Naval Proving Ground (now the Naval Surface Warfare Center) in Dahlgren, Virginia, was marked by innovation, perseverance, and a profound commitment to service.

Some key highlights of Dr. West’s career include:

• Leading multi-year projects to create mathematical models of the Earth’s shape, which became critical building blocks for GPS satellite orbital planning.
• Programming the IBM 7030 computer to deliver refined calculations for accurate geodetic Earth models, directly impacting the development of GPS.
• Publishing influential technical reports and studies, such as “Data Processing System Specifications for the Geosat Satellite Radar Altimeter,” which advanced the accuracy of geoid height estimation.
• Serving as a role model and trailblazer for women, people of color, and others underrepresented in STEM, overcoming barriers and inspiring future generations.

Dr. West’s contributions have been recognized by scientific, military, and public institutions, including:

• Induction into the United States Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame
• The Webby Lifetime Achievement Award
• The Prince Philip Medal from the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering
• The IEEE President’s Award
• The National Museum of the Surface Navy’s Freedom of the Seas Exploration and Innovation Award

Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, skill, and dedication. Dr. West’s induction into the GIS Hall of Fame not only celebrates her remarkable contributions but also serves as a beacon for equity, recognition, and inspiration within the geospatial community.

Dr. Gladys West was recently recognized for this honor during the GPN GIS-Pro 2025 annual conference in Denver, CO. Her grandson, Andre Jones, provided a pre-recorded video message with Dr. West to accept the honor.

Dr. West died in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on January 17, 2026, at the age of 95.

GPN’s GIS Hall of Fame laureates include:

• 2005 Inductees: Edgar Horwood, Ian McHarg, Roger Tomlinson, Jack Dangermond, Nancy Tosta, and the Harvard Lab
• 2006 Inductee: Gary Hunter
• 2007 Inductees: Don Cooke and Michael Goodchild
• 2009 Inductees: Will Craig and Carl Reed
• 2010 Inductee: C. Dana Tomlin
• 2011 Inductees: William Huxhold and Barry Wellar
• 2012 Inductees: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Natural Resources Canada, Statistics Canada, United States Census Bureau and United States Geological Survey
• 2014 Inductee: Charles Croner
• 2016 Inductees: Alex Miller, Mark Monmonier, and Waldo Tobler
• 2018 Inductees: Peter Burrough and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
• 2020 Inductee: GPN’s GISCorps
• 2022 Inductee: Nancy von Meyer
• 2023 Inductee: Mike Kevany
• 2025 Inductee: Gladys West

Visit the GPN's GIS Hall of Fame to learn about the path-breaking accomplishments of all inductees.

• Demonstrated work and/or research within the GIS (or related) industry
  
• Quality of responses to essay questions
  
• Impact of work, contributions to the GIS field
  
• Letter of recommendation

The scholarship program selects up to two young professionals (35 years old or younger) to attend GIS-Pro in-person. The scholarship application is rigorous, and the evaluation committee appreciates the effort and detail with which all candidates presented their qualifications.

Meet this year’s winners:

Harit Shah

Harit Shah recently earned his Master’s in Computer Science from California State University – Sacramento. Prior to that, he earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology from Gujarat Technological University, in India.

For the past year, Harit has been a GIS Developer Intern, at the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) where he has contributed to transportation mapping and analysis initiatives. He was a teaching assistant in the Computer Science Department at CSU-Sacramento and a peer mentor in the Geography Department, all while balancing the rigorous demands of his graduate studies.

Some highlights from his application:

“My name is Harit, which means “green” or “nature” in Sanskrit—a name that has become deeply symbolic of my passion for environmental stewardship. Motivated by a commitment to combat climate change, I have dedicated my GIS work to finding innovative solutions for pressing environmental and community challenges. Beyond environmental applications, I have used GIS to address public health concerns in my local community.

Leaving my family and home in India to pursue education in the United States was a major decision. Since arriving, I have been fortunate to have worked at the Institute of Social Research in partnership with the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Transportation. With both of my parents being mathematics professors, I have inherited a passion for teaching and mentoring. At CSU Sacramento, I taught four computer science undergraduate courses and served as a mentor for the Geography department.”

Youwei Zhou, Senior Transportation Engineer, at CALTRANS commented: “As Harit’s direct supervisor during his internship at Caltrans, I had the privilege of mentoring him on a range of GIS initiatives focused on California’s transportation infrastructure. Harit is one of the most driven and promising young professionals I’ve worked with, and I fully support his application for this outstanding opportunity. Throughout the internship, I mentored Harit not only in refining his technical skills but also in how to frame and communicate our GIS work to external audiences. I encouraged him to prepare and present our Caltrans projects at CalGIS 2025, where he delivered a compelling talk on using GIS automation to support transportation workflows. His professionalism, clarity, and passion during that presentation made a strong impression on our peers in the field.”

Garner (Gigi) Hancock

Garner is the GIS Cartographer for Durham County (North Carolina) Tax Administration. They earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geophysical Sciences from the University of Chicago.

Some highlights from their application:

“The Durham County Parcel layer is the foundation for how people's real property is taxed, which has a large impact on our community. I strive to ensure it is as accurate as possible and complete thorough research when editing the parcel layer. I often interact with the public and communicate how our GIS processes work and why property has been mapped in a certain way. The parcel layer data also underpins a lot of City processes including permitting and planning, so it is essential that we map accurately and efficiently.

I have also worked with OpenColumbus to digitize and map sidewalk, curb, and ramp infrastructure. This is to ensure there are accurate routes available for people who need accessibility accommodations that are often not accounted for using routing services.

Hacking into History is a community driven project in Durham that works to create and visualise datasets about the historical landscape of Durham. We are currently working on mapping all of the parcels that have been subject to racially restrictive covenants.”

Zuri Gurganious, GIS & Land Records Supervisor at the County, recommended Garner for the scholarship: “Garner has been working as a GIS Cartographer for Durham County since April 2024 and has so far exceeded in their position. They are excellent at conveying complex ideas about GIS mapping to taxpayers in a clear and concise way. They also communicate clearly to other staff (both within and outside of GIS) about what processes need to be done and create maps to illustrate information. Garner shows a great amount of aptitude in the maintenance of the database and performs high quality work even when understaffed. They are very organized and happy to share their thorough notes with others. They pay great attention to detail and consistently meet deadlines.”

Gigi was also a GIS/Applications Technician for the US EPA where their supervisor, Eric S. Hall, is an enthusiastic supporter: “Gigi worked for me in two research groups at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD), Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, from June 2023 through April 2024. Gigi worked for me on two of my research projects, the Source Assessment Mapping Interface (SAMI) Tool and the Regional Environmental Health Visualization Interface (REHD-VI) Tool. Gigi is a top-notch developer of Geographic Information System (GIS) applications, and their skills and abilities in this area alone put my research team at least 2 to 3 years ahead of where it had been with respect to integrating GIS capability into our research. Because of Gigi, we can fully assess the temporal and spatial impacts of community water pollution exposure to FIB on various populations of interest, which is an important EPA mandate. GIS is fully implemented in a systematic way into our research because of the framework that Gigi developed for us. Although Gigi was a bachelor’s degree graduate when working for me, Gigi demonstrated the research skills of a high-level graduate student. My daily work interaction with Gigi has convinced me that there is no limit to what Gigi can accomplish.”

Harit and Garner will both attend GIS-Pro in the Rockies 2025 in Denver, Colorado in October. GPN is pleased to support these young professionals, along with so many others who are the future leaders of the organization.

A core strategic goal for the Geospatial Professional Network is to support GIS professionals at all stages of their careers. The organization has established a number of programs to support young professionals and has active participation through programs such as GISCorps with abundant, diverse and rewarding volunteer opportunities, the GIS Leadership Academy, and the Vanguard Cabinet which collaborates with GPN leaders and committees to create programs and opportunities geared toward other young professionals. Learn more about the scholarship, and consider donating to support future winners.

* This scholarship fund was established in 2018 and honors Dr. Marilyn Ruiz. During Dr. Ruiz's career at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she provided her undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students with excellent research experiences in her laboratory which helped them to have successful careers in academia, government, and industry. Marilyn was passionate about her role as a mentor of graduate education.

Applications are submitted in one of two categories: 

• Single Process Systems are outstanding and working examples applying geospatial technology to automate a specific process or operation involving one department or sub-unit of an organization.  The system application results in extended and/or improved services that are more efficient and/or save money.  
• 
  Enterprise Systems are outstanding and working examples of using geospatial technology in a multi-department environment as part of an integrated process. These systems exemplify effective use of technology yielding widespread improvements in the process(es) and/or service(s) involved and/or cost savings to the organization.  
  
  

ESIG submissions are required to address specific award criteria associated with system design and implementation, organizational impact, and use of resources to create the system.

A volunteer ESIG Awards Peer Review Committee is formed each year, tasked with reviewing and rating the applications. There were 12 people serving on the 2025 committee: Alex Harper, Alice Wilson, Curtis Pulford, Dianne Haley (Past/Associate Chair), Kristin Johnston, Matt Shade, Patrick Baber, Kim McDonough, Dan Giersz, Susan Olson, Olesya Powers, and Rachel Parrinello (Chair). GPN extends its thanks to the committee members for the time and effort they have put into the judging of this year’s ESIG submissions.

The results of the 2025 ESIG Award competition are:

Single Process Systems

• Winner: King County GIS Center/Seattle, Washington: King County AI-GIS-Strengthened State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Response Letter Generator
  Submitted by: Tamara Davis, King County Chief Technology Officer, King County, Seattle, Washington
• Distinguished System: City of Plano, Texas: Zoning Case Response
  Submitted by: Kristina Deitz, GIS Analyst III, City of Plano, Texas

Enterprise Systems

• Winner: City of Columbus, Ohio – Department of Public Service: Closed Lanes Or Steel plate Events (CLOSE) Program
  Submitted by: Kimberly Baillieul, Data Solutions Manager – Department of Public Service, City of Columbus, Ohio
• Distinguished System: City of Midland, Texas: Council Dashboard
  Submitted by: Richard M. Osuamkpe, GIS Manager, City of Midland, Texas

The following summaries of the two winning entries are taken from judges’ comments and submission packets.

Single Process Winner: King County GIS Center/Seattle, WA: King County AI-GIS-Strengthened State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Response Letter Generator
The (SEPA) AI-GIS-Strengthened State Environmental Policy Act Response Letter Generator application uses generative artificial intelligence and geographic information systems to evaluate the environmental/health impacts of proposed construction projects and recommend modifications to improve project characteristics prior to permitting.  The previous process took five hours of staff time to research and manually write each review letter for these construction projects.  There were over 600 projects annually to review, and staff could only respond to approximately four projects per month.  Using GIS and GenAI cut the review process time to 20 minutes per letter.  This capacity and efficiency improvement allows King County to review nearly all construction proposals each month and save thousands of hours of manual research and analysis annually. This project marks the first practical use of GIS technology in conjunction with GenAI within King County to better protect the beautiful natural landscapes – and residents’ health.

A few judges’ comments:

• This is a highly exemplary system that pushes the boundaries of public sector innovation.
  
• The design allows King County to generate communications for major construction proposals highlighting environmental impacts. It was identified that most of the information already resides in GIS, and using generative AI is an innovative way to access this information and apply it to an existing workflow.
  
• The organizational impact was really to the community the County serves. They can complete more reviews that provide decision makers with a full picture of the environmental impact of construction projects. The project also spurred inter-agency collaboration, as meetings between multiple county agencies have become a platform for sharing insights about GIS with GenAI. Very positive impacts on internal city departments, as well as making it easier for the public to get up-to-date information.
  
• This was an incredibly innovative approach to solving a challenge. This example should be a great motivator for other entities to begin using AI tools with GIS to build efficiencies.
  
• King County clearly had a breadth of in-house resources available for this project. The use of a hack-a-thon to kick off the idea and then transfer it to government employees is an innovative use.
  
• Their design not only boosts efficiency but also advances health equity and environmental justice in King County.
  
• This project saves thousands of staff hours annually, enables more consistent and data-driven recommendations, and allows staff to focus on strategic work. The system benefits public health staff, developers, and communities by promoting healthier, more equitable development. It also transforms internal operations and fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration.
• King County, WA is inundated with approximately 600 construction projects annually, overwhelming the DPH staff which took an average of 5 hours to review each project for natural and human environmental impacts. The novel AI approach reduces this to 20 minutes. This has led to interest in expanding AI integration into other County processes and services. The application does an excellent job detailing the challenge, unexpected problems, and uniqueness of the solution.

Enterprise System Winner
City of Columbus, OH: Closed Lanes or Steel-plate Events (CLOSE) Program
The City of Columbus, Ohio Department of Public Service (DPS) is responsible for regulating activities within the public right-of-way, including road closures and the placement of steel plates. Both events occur frequently and impact transportation safety, network connectivity, and performance of core city services. Understanding the effect of these events over a large municipal footprint can be challenging. To tackle this, DPS developed the Closed Lanes or Steel plate Event (CLOSE) Program. 

The CLOSE Program enables ongoing documentation, tracking, and the aggregation of road closure and steel plate placement data. At the core of the program is safety, engagement, and compliance; all current, planned, and emergency lane closures or steel plate placements with Columbus right-of-way must be reported using the CLOSE System form. 

The CLOSE Program is comprehensive, truly recognizing the reality of road closure and steel plate placement operations from government, contractors, and public perspectives, and integrating those efforts into the goals for success. CLOSE was researched, architected, and deployed in-house using tools and software already available as a part of the City’s portfolio. As an internally designed system, DPS has institutionalized the knowledge needed for ongoing system maintenance and improvement and maintains the ability to integrate data into other operations. Executive support, unique branding, technological innovation, legislative backing, and intentional outreach ensures its ongoing success. 

A few judges’ comments:

• This is really a very well thought out application. They've made it so easy to understand the scope of what they've done. I love the fact that they've learned from past attempts to solve this problem and really homed in on the baseline items that were needed. The thought and attention to detail on the design by the team is amazing. 
  
• This system benefits SO many different divisions within the organization and many outside as well. Having this information available to emergency services and even the snowplows is a massive improvement in trying to guess where road closures or steel plates are. Honestly the range of who this positively affects is just astounding.
  
• The team has created this product using resources it already had. I'm always blown away by what we in this industry can do with "basic" tools, and this is no exception. The architecture really brings home all the moving parts of this application and how, after years of trial and error, the team was able to put it all together in a way that works and works extremely well. Having the data governance policy is impressive and I'm so glad that this project adhered to the policy, proving that it works!
  
• Perseverance!  This was about a 5-year project which started and an idea and morphed over time to a successful solution.   
  
• There was a dramatic 36% increase in compliance for ROW permits in the first two years of implementation providing for an increased awareness of closures and steel plate locations. It also impacted snow and ice control operations, providing operators locations of plates to avoid when driving mitigating the risk of damaging the snowplow blades.
  
• An extremely well designed and executed application that has had an impact well beyond its original intent. Development staff showed flexibility and insight in modifying the application to encompass a much greater capability than was first envisioned.
  

The accomplishments will be recognized during GIS-Pro in the Rockies in October in Denver, CO. In addition, each system will be highlighted in an upcoming "Excellence in GIS" GPN webinar series. Visit GPN's ESIG Award web page to learn more about each system and celebrate previous winners.

Congratulations to all who participated in the ESIG submission process and to the 2025 ESIG winners!

Horwood Distinguished Service Award: An occasional award given for long-term service to URISA and the profession. This award is GPN's ultimate award for service and leadership to GPN and within the geospatial industry. Awardees will have demonstrated significant contributions to both URISA and the geospatial technologies industry. The Horwood Distinguished Service Award is named after founding member and first President, Edgar Horwood. Horwood was an early pioneer in the field of information systems for local government and admired by all for his intellectual and organizational contributions to URISA. Horwood was the Chair of the constitutional drafting committee, giving URISA the "open membership" model that has led to our inter-disciplinary organization.

2025 Recipient: Thomas Fisher

Leadership Award: Presented to members who have demonstrated exemplary leadership to GPN, creativity, innovation, and dedicated support of URISA programs. The recipient should be a member of GPN for enough years to show a pattern of leadership. Typically, the recipient will have been responsible for new programs or activities, or significantly enhanced an existing activity or program, so that it takes GPN in a new direction and/or enhances our standing in the professional community.
   

2025 Recipients: Judy Colby-George & Sid Pandey 

Service Award: Presented to members who have demonstrated faithful service to URISA and participation in its program over a period of several years. This award is for specific service to URISA. It should require a significant number of years of (not necessarily consecutive) service in a number of programs or committees, and a willingness to take on challenges without regard to the potential for recognition.

         

Pictured: John Nolte with Carley Fitzgerald, Rachel Frojen, Heather Studley, Tim Nolan, and Jami Dennis

2025 Recipients: Kristin Johnston*, Carley Fitzgerald, Rachel Frojen, Heather Studley, Tim Nolan, Jami Dennis, Greg Mattis*

Barbara Hirsch Special Service Award: Presented to members or staff who have made special contributions to URISA. This award was created (in 2004) to honor URISA’s former Chief Financial Officer, Barbara Hirsch. Barb made her mark at URISA by being an exceptional professional who would always step forward when a point needed to be made, but never stepped to the front for recognition. It is in the spirit of this dedication that the Board of Directors has created an award for special service to URISA. This award will be given to individuals or committees who have shown a similar consummate level of service to URISA through an ongoing commitment to our success as an organization.

2025 Recipients: Matthew Gerike, Danielle Giza*

Outstanding Chapter Award
Each year, URISA recognizes an outstanding Chapter that has sponsored particularly effective activities or has otherwise excelled in serving its membership. Outstanding Chapter Award criteria include:

• Innovation
• Outreach
• Education
• Community Impact

2025 Recipient: Texas Chapter

Young Professional of the Year: GPN's Leadership Development Committee selects the Young Professional of the Year to recognize outstanding contributions as part of the Vanguard Cabinet.

The Vanguard Cabinet (VC) debuted in 2011 to engage young GIS practitioners (35 and under), increase their numbers in the organization, and better understand the concerns facing these future leaders of the GIS community. The Cabinet’s mission is to collaborate with GPN's Board of Directors and Committees in creating and promoting programs and policies of benefit to young professionals. Comprised entirely of passionate young members selected from different geospatial disciplines, the Cabinet aims to position GPN as the center of opportunities for creative young professionals who are committed to improving the organization and the geospatial profession via innovation, collaboration, networking, and professional development.

2025 Recipient: Ethan McGhee

We are so very grateful for their contributions! To learn about the history and previous recipients, visit https://thegpn.org/page/ServiceAwards

* Not in attendance

About GPN: The Geospatial Professional Network is a dynamic community of GIS professionals, providing top-tier education, networking opportunities, and career development resources. Committed to upholding the highest ethical standards, GPN empowers members to advance their careers, support their organizations, and shape the future of the geospatial profession.

The Geospatial Professional Network (GPN) is pleased to announce the newest members of its Vanguard Cabinet. The Vanguard Cabinet (VC) is a GPN initiative (which debuted in 2011) to engage young GIS practitioners, increase their numbers in the organization, and better understand the concerns facing these future leaders of the GIS community. The VC is an advisory board who represent the young membership of the organization. The Cabinet’s mission is to collaborate with GPN's leadership in creating and promoting programs and policies of benefit to young professionals.

Comprised entirely of passionate young members selected from different geospatial disciplines, the Cabinet aims to position GPN as the center of opportunities for ambitious young professionals who are committed to improving the organization and the geospatial profession via innovation, collaboration, networking, and professional development. Each will serve a three-year term.

Meet the Cohort

Matt Hatami
Graduate Researcher | PhD Student
University of Florida
Location: Gainesville, Florida
"I’m honored to join the GPN Vanguard Cabinet for the 2025–2027 term. This is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with a passionate group of geospatial professionals, contribute to impactful initiatives, and support the next generation of GIS leaders. I’m especially looking forward to developing my own leadership skills while helping to create spaces for emerging professionals to grow, connect, and find their voice in the industry. Being part of the Vanguard Cabinet is a chance to give back to a community that continues to inspire and challenge me, and I’m grateful to be a part of it."

Jordan Landrum
Data Analyst
U.S. Peace Corps Response
Location: Kanifing, The Gambia
"I am grateful and honored to join the 2026-2028 Vanguard Cabinet cohort. Since first connecting with the Geospatial Professional Network, I’ve felt welcomed and supported, and I am eager to give back to this community that has already given me so much. As a lifelong geogeek who once drew maps for fun and now works at the intersection of GIS, disaster management, and international development, I am passionate about using geospatial tools to support people and communities. On the Cabinet, I look forward to contributing to GPN’s mission of empowering professionals to learn, grow, and find belonging by supporting the mentorship program, promoting inclusive pathways into the field, and helping shape a space where fellow young geospatial practitioners can connect their passions with meaningful impact."



Fiona Fox
GIS Analyst
Lightshift Energy
Location: Arlington, VA
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to join the Vanguard Cabinet and I am excited for what's to come! I first heard about the VC at GIS Pro last year and have been eager to become more involved in GPN since then. I look forward to connecting with others through and helping shape the next generation of GIS."



Sarah Brenneman
GIS Specialist
Cultivate Geospatial Solutions
Location: Noblesville, IN
"I'm incredibly honored to join GPN’s Vanguard Cabinet and be part of a community that encourages innovation, collaboration, and growth in the geospatial field. This opportunity allows me to connect with other passionate professionals, share my ideas and experiences, and contribute to exciting projects that encourage other young professionals in GIS. I look forward to learning from fellow members and making a meaningful impact through our work together!"



Topista Nafula Barasa, Ph.D.
GIS Analyst
City of Toledo, Ohio
Location: Toledo, Ohio
"I am deeply honored to serve as a member of the GPN Vanguard Cabinet. Joining GPN is part of my career goals of building professional and personal connections within the industry. I look forward to collaborating with young professionals and students through outreach, recognizing that students represent the next generation of professionals. GPN has afforded me a chance to develop professionally by serving in my local chapter, and now I have an opportunity to serve others outside my chapter. I am eager to contribute to the cabinet’s efforts in advancing GPN’s mission and vision to enhance the geospatial sector further, both in the United States and globally."



Carolina Szoepe
GIS Project Assistant
City of Aurora, IL
Location: Greater Chicago Area, IL
"I’m honored and grateful for the opportunity to join such a dedicated and passionate team on the VC. I’m excited to contribute to the innovative work this cohort will address. As a member of the VC, I’ll be using my passion for GIS not only to inform but to inspire a continued interest in expanding our collective knowledge. I truly believe that a drive for ongoing learning, exploration, and collaboration within GIS is essential for success. I look forward to continuing to build and strengthen connections within this amazing community. Thank you and I look forward to what the next years bring!"



Cassie Sanford
GIS Specialist
University of Wisconsin - Madison’s Center for Health Disparities Research
Location: Madison, WI
"I am thrilled and honored to be a part of the 2026 cohort of the GPN’s Vanguard Cabinet. I first heard of the Vanguard Cabinet when I attended GIS-Pro 2024, and I knew I had to be a part of it. I am looking forward to working with my fellow cabinet members to create and provide educational and professional opportunities and to foster community for young and emerging professionals in the geospatial field. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute and give back to the geospatial community, which has been so welcoming to me, and make it welcoming for all future young professionals."


Matt Moy
Technical Sales Executive
Mistras
Location: Chicago, IL
"I am extremely honored and humbled to join the GPN Vanguard Cabinet! It is a privilege to have the opportunity to join a dedicated group to promote networking and collaboration within the GIS community. With the VC, I am excited to continue advancing the mentorship program for the next generation of young professionals and can’t wait to see what we accomplish together!"

• Demonstrated work and/or research within the GIS (or related) industry
  
• Quality of responses to essay questions
  
• Impact of work, contributions to the GIS field
• Letter of recommendation

URISA established the scholarship program which selects up to two young professionals (35 years old or younger) to attend GIS-Pro in-person. The scholarship application is rigorous, and the evaluation committee appreciates the effort and detail with which all candidates presented their qualifications.

Meet this year’s winners:

Katie Walker was most recently a GIS Teaching Assistant at Clark University in Worcester, MA and an Environmental Data Analyst Intern for the U.S. Forest Service. She was a Geospatial Analyst at Maxar Technologies; an Image Annotator at Athenium Analytics; and an Urban Agriculture Trainer for the U.S. Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Geography, Cum Laude (May 2018) and a Geospatial Information Analysis Certificate from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida and will earn a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Policy from Clark University next May. Katie’s Master's thesis will focus on the impact of wildfires on air quality in New England.

Waverly Thompson was her supervisor at Maxar, where Katie was a Geospatial-Imagery Analyst and Project Point of Contact (POC) from June 2022 through June 2023. Waverly notes that when Katie was “presented with the opportunity to step up as a Project POC, Katie both accepted and excelled. Not only did she prove her ability to prioritize and manage her time successfully, but she moved up the ranks and began carrying out standard QC, reviewing the work of other analysts and communicating her recommended edits before deliveries. Overall, Katie showed great professionalism as well as genuine interest while working on the team. Although I only got to work with Katie for about a year, she was one of my most reliable team members due to her independence and ability to take initiative. With Katie’s dedicated work ethic and positive attitude towards learning, I have no doubt she will succeed in all future endeavors.”


Olamiposi Fagunloye is a Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. He also worked as an ESG/Sustainability Intern at the Wylde Center in Decatur, Georgia; Remote Work Geospatial Data Analyst and Insights Intern for the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT); GIS and Remote Sensing Manager at Nigeria Flying Labs; and a Climate Data Analyst at the Centre for Space Research and Applications, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

He earned a B.Tech, Remote Sensing & Geoscience Information Systems from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria in 2021. His Undergraduate Thesis was focused on: “Mapping of Flood Risk Zones using a Multi-Criteria Approach and Radar.” Olamiposi expects to earn his M.Sc., Geosciences – Geography Concentration from Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA in December.

Jeremy E. Diem was Olamiposi’s M.S. thesis adviser as well as being his instructor in Global Climate Change in the Department of Geosciences at Georgia State University. He noted that Olamiposi “has focused his efforts on using Geographic Information Science (GIS) to better understand environmental phenomena. He has taken every GIS course in the department and has excelled in all of them. His thesis, which examines intra-annual variations in urban effects on precipitation, has a heavy GIS component and has the potential to show exactly where precipitation enhancement occurs in the Atlanta, Georgia region.”

Akpofure Fakpor taught Olamiposi at the Federal University of Technology in Akure and was also his academic advisor and supervisor. “I have had the privilege of witnessing his exceptional dedication, skills, and passion for leveraging geospatial technologies to drive positive change.”

Taylor Shelton, PhD, Assistant Professor Department of Geosciences Georgia State University shared that “Though his performance throughout the semester was consistently solid, he capped things off by producing an excellent final project in the form of a multivariate map comparing state-level cancer mortality to multiple demographic variables.”

Katie and Olamiposi will both attend GIS-Pro 2024 in Portland, Maine in October.
URISA is pleased to support these young professionals, along with so many others who are the future leaders of the organization.

A core strategic goal for URISA is to support GIS professionals at all stages of their careers. URISA has established a number of programs to support young professionals and has active participation through programs such as GISCorps with abundant, diverse and rewarding volunteer opportunities, the URISA GIS Leadership Academy, and the Vanguard Cabinet which collaborates with URISA leaders and committees to create programs and opportunities geared toward other young professionals. Learn more about the scholarship, and consider donating to support future winners.

* This scholarship fund was established in 2018 and honors Dr. Marilyn Ruiz. During Dr. Ruiz's career at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she provided her undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students with excellent research experiences in her laboratory which helped them to have successful careers in academia, government, and industry. Marilyn was passionate about her role as a mentor of graduate education.

A volunteer ESIG Awards Review Committee is formed each year, tasked with reviewing and rating the applications. There were 14 people serving on the 2024 committee: Alex Harper, Alice Wilson, Asher McNicol, Chris George, Curtis Pulford, Dan Giersz, Dianne Haley (Past/Associate Chair), John Nerge, Kim McDonough, Kristin Johnston, Matt Shade, Megan Nehrbas, Patrick Baber, and Rachel Parrinello (Chair).

URISA extends its thanks to the committee members for the time and effort they have put into the judging of this year’s ESIG submissions.

The final results of the 2024 ESIG Award competition are:

Single Process Systems

• Winner: City of Rockwall, Texas: "Restaurant Inspection Scores Dashboard"
  Submitted by: Olesya Powers, GISP, GIS Analyst, City of Rockwall, Texas
  
  
• Distinguished System: King County, Washington: “King County Aerial Imagery Program”
  Submitted by: Tamara Davis, King County GIS Center Manager, King County, Seattle, Washington
  

Enterprise Systems

• Winner: City of Frisco, Texas: “SAFER (Situational Awareness For Emergency Response)”
  Submitted by: Susan Olson, Assistant Director, Information Technology – Geospatial Solutions, City of Frisco, Texas
  
  
• Distinguished System: King County, Washington: “King County State of GIS”
  Submitted by: Tamara Davis, King County GIS Center Manager, King County, Seattle, Washington
  
  

The following summaries of the two winning entries are taken from judges’ comments.

Single Process Winner
City of Rockwall, Texas – Restaurant Inspection Scores Dashboard

The City of Rockwall, Texas Restaurant Inspection Scores Dashboard was implemented as a GIS-centric permitting and inspection software, which was further automated to share restaurant inspection scores with businesses, the public, and amongst city departments. The City of Rockwall GIS Division automated the publication of Restaurant Health Inspection Scores in a manner that is easily digestible for users, has reduced manual and duplicative work, and has improved efficiency, effectiveness, and timeliness of data sharing. GIS staff leveraged spatial views, custom scripts, and customization of web tools to successfully create a sustainable and elegant map and dashboard, along with access to historic inspection reports. Expert personnel and customization were pivotal in the successful implementation of the Restaurant Inspection Scores Dashboard.

A few judges’ comments:

• This application did a fantastic job of comparing the “old way” versus the “new way” for improving efficiency/timeliness, public accessibility, staff workload and focus, system integration and data management, and transparency for public trust.
  
• Very positive impacts on internal city departments, as well as making it easier for the public to get up-to-date information.
  
• Eliminates redundant work and manual data entry, saving time and thus money with efficiency. Transparency for the public in an easy-to-use interface.
  
• Provides clear, current, and most importantly, accurate information related to restaurant scores when that was not the case before. The previous system was not always updated in a timely manner nor equally across all restaurants and required manual data entry.
  
• It sounds like a great system and use of technology. It creates an equal and easy to view system for information about the quality of restaurants.
  
• I want the City I live in to do this too!
  
  

Enterprise System Winner
City of Frisco, Texas – SAFER (Situational Awareness for Emergency Response)

Leveraging a strong partnership between Fire, Dispatch, Police, Transportation Engineering, IT, and a local school district, the City of Frisco (Frisco) brought a vision for Situational Awareness for Emergency Response (SAFER) to reality through the in-house development of a geospatial platform. Since its initial implementation, the SAFER platform has gone through a series of transformations, evolving into a Public Safety Digital Twin, incorporating over 30 integrations and 240 GIS data layers. These systems include preplanning such as building floor plans and the location of critical infrastructure, Fire and CAD RMS, 9-1-1 caller locations, fire suppression system impairments, RapidSOS, real-time traffic conditions, vehicle and Motorola radio GPS locations, Waze incidents and road closures, school and traffic live-video feeds, weather conditions and hazmat plumes. Additionally, the SAFER team developed a custom software solution with several components, all developed with in-house resources. The innovative and collaborative relationship that exists between Fire, Police, Traffic Engineering, and IT has yielded a product unparalleled in the commercial market, continuing the legacy as a unique environment that, to date, is unprecedented in the local government sector.

A few judges’ comments:

• The level of real time data integration is awesome. This system should be a model for all cities going forward.
• The dedication of the GIS, Fire, Police, Transportation and other departments to work collaboratively on this is astounding. Bravo for ease of user acceptance. The impact is easy to see given thousands of hours were saved which is big for efficiency. Resource/information sharing is huge and at the end of the day, if it saves lives and property, it is all worth it.
  
• This is a well thought-out and thorough application. The applicant not only answered each question with examples, but they also defined everything to provide a complete understanding. Anything enhancing the completeness and response capabilities/time of first responders is great, considering seconds can save a life, but this is truly the culmination of years of implementing components and truly understanding the needs of the end user (regardless of their role).
  
• The design of this system is extremely exemplary for how it was architected as a public safety digital twin. It integrates numerous data sources in a way that was done thoughtfully for the end user, as described in the application. While there are many layers and options, the UI is intuitive and provides key information in a digestible format. It is remarkable how much streaming data and on-the-fly processing is also included for items like traffic response and road conditions.
  
• This system is exemplary given the sheer amount of data it processes in a streamlined manner for critical incident planning and response. The City of Frisco has invested the resources to keep this system running smoothly for years to come, and to grow it as needed. It is a stellar example of how a GIS platform can transform data and processes in a government entity to improve experiences both internally and by residents consuming their services.

The accomplishments will be recognized during GIS-Pro 2024. In addition, each system may be highlighted in an upcoming "Excellence in GIS" URISA webinar series. Visit URISA's ESIG Award web page to learn more about each system and celebrate previous winners.