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Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi’s Interactive Coastal Resources Atlas Wins International Award |
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EAD’s interactive guide on Abu Dhabi’s coastline and waters wins prestigious Special Achievement Award for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Environmental Management for 2010. EAD’s Atlas is recognised with global best practice award in San Diego, USA, by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI)The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) emerged as first place winner among 300,000 worldwide organisations to be recognised with the Special Achievement in Geographic Information System (GIS) Award for Environment Management at the 30th Annual Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) International User Conference held in San Diego, California. EAD was awarded for its innovative use of ESRI’s GIS technology in developing The Coastal Resources Atlas and Environment Vulnerability Index (CRA) for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Atlas, launched in Abu Dhabi in June 2010, is the first comprehensive resource of-its-kind in the Gulf region and one of the most technologically-advanced in the world. The Coastal Resources Atlas and the Environment Vulnerability Index was designed to aid local policy-making and coastal development planning, as well as to inform and educate people about the Emirate’s rich marine biodiversity. The Atlas also serves as an information tool for a variety of important marine datasets from a network of data providers. It combines an ecosystem classification scheme and quantification of habitat vulnerability to a variety of stressors. At the Awards ceremony in San Diego, California, EAD was selected out of more than 300,000 organisations in industries such as agriculture, cartography, climate change, defence and intelligence, economic development, education, government, health and human services, telecommunications and utilities. Mr. Thabit Zahran Al Abdessalaam, Director of Biodiversity Management Sector at EAD received the award on behalf of the organisation. "We created the Special Achievement in GIS Award to recognize our users’ extraordinary contributions to global society," says ESRI President Jack Dangermond. "Each year, I look forward to being part of this ceremony; it’s a tradition that has gained great meaning and importance for professionals in the GIS industry." “The Atlas, which is available to view online at coastalatlas.ead.ae, is based upon the ArcGIS’s desktop and web-based applications. It combines an Internet-based information system and interactive map and expert GIS desktop applications for viewing and analyzing coastal and marine data. The database constitutes a computerized, assisted system for input, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of interpreted geographic and statistical data. It details environmental sensitivities, such as different habitats, its local biodiversity and their vulnerabilities,” said Thabit Al Abdessalaam, Director of Biodiversity Management Sector at EAD. |
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