New software licensing agreement gives GIS users better tools

Unlimited quantities of up-to-date geographic information systems (GIS) software products will be available to state agencies, including DHHS, through a new Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) with the GIS software company ESRI. The North Carolina Office of Information Technology Services approved the agreement, which directly benefits both state government GIS users and taxpayers.

The agreement will provide substantial cost reductions for software, training, support and other services, as well as savings in procurement and administrative costs. It will also help ensure GIS software compatibility across agencies and immediate access to software upgrades.

“The availability of ESRI software to North Carolina state agencies will be a tremendous benefit,” said Dianne Enright, Health and Spatial Analysis Unit manager, State Center for Health Statistics. “By allowing agencies access to the latest releases of GIS software, more interagency projects can be developed. Now we can use this technology throughout state government and possibly create uses never seen before.”

By layering information on maps, GIS can create a picture that helps people understand data more easily. For example, GIS software can create a series of maps showing the spread of a disease such as rabies over a 10-year period. Or it might map out high-poverty areas and the location of certain services such as free health clinics or WIC providers to see if people can access the services they need.

North Carolina applies GIS in a number of areas including public health, disaster preparedness, economic development, homeland security, and transportation.

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Last Modified: September 1, 2005