Salem, Ore.—The City of Salem, celebrates GIS Day today with the release of a new open data platform called Data Salem. The City has been a longtime leader in data sharing and collaboration, publishing one of the first open data sites several years ago.  

Today, on GIS Day 2020, the City is re-launching the site with a new name, improved content, new and easy-to-use features, and many other improvements to empower our users.  The new site has been designed for the community in the spirit of transparency and simplicity, showcasing GIS data and applications that impact decision making in our region. 

Over 20 years?ago, Jack Dangermond, the founder and president of Esri, which is the technology and software company behind GIS mapping, envisioned people collaborating and sharing how GIS affects everyone. Dangermond’s vision led to the establishment of GIS Day, which was first observed in 1999.  

The explosion of geospatial technology since then has expanded that idea into a global event that shows how geography and the real-world applications of GIS are making a difference in business, government, and society. It's a chance for organizations to share their accomplishments and inspire others to discover and use technology.  

“Salem has always enjoyed using GIS Day as a catalyst to educate and empower users.  We will certainly miss the personal interaction this year so we planned the re-launch of our DataSalem site to celebrate how GIS is used in powerful ways,” said Susan Ross-Blohm, Salem’s Information Technology Manager, retiring this year after 35 years in the geospatial industry.  “I will say it one last time… GIS is more than a map.  GIS is a technology platform that has become mission-critical, the “glue” between differing systems, and the way to deliver the transparency, innovation, and communication that our community requires.” 

Today, the City of Salem will join hundreds of organizations worldwide in virtual gatherings that will celebrate the impactful work of GIS professionals and serve to ignite the imagination of future innovators who will further advance global progress using GIS.  For Salem, we invite you to visit DataSalem to celebrate GIS Day and to take a virtual tour of the geospatial maps, apps, and data, prepared for you by Salem GIS staff.  

"GIS Day is a wonderful opportunity for professionals from around the world to get together to share the amazing things they are doing," said Dangermond in a media announcement on the GIS website. "This year, more than ever before, the work of GIS has helped the world better understand and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. Organizations across the globe are taking part in grassroots events that help celebrate geospatial science and how it impacts the real world for good. Our users should be proud of the work they do, which GIS Day is meant to showcase." 

For more information on how the City of Salem is innovating through GIS technology, visit the city’s website where you can find links to many useful resources about how GIS impacts the work of Salem.  

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