GIS Solutions launches digital mapping competition to mark World GIS Day 2016

The Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Day provides an international forum for users of GIS technology to demonstrate real-world applications that are making a difference in our society.
The first formal GIS Day took place in 1999. ESRI (acronym for Environmental Systems Research Institute – USA) President and co-founder Jack Dangermond credits Ralph Nader with being the person who inspired the creation of GIS Day. He considered GIS Day a good initiative for people to learn about geography and the uses of GIS. He wanted GIS Day to be a grassroots effort and open to everyone to participate.
World GIS Day is celebrated around the world every year on the 3rd Wednesday of the month of November. This year it falls on the 16th of November 2016 - for which information and material can be found at www.gisday.com.
GIS Solutions (Pvt) Ltd., as the authorized distributor for ESRI, takes on World GIS Day to promote the use and value of maps and mapping technology for the general public of Sri Lanka, especially amongst school children. To create awareness about World GIS Day 2016, GIS Solutions is conducting a competition that involves mapping interesting and historically important places onto a digital map. This is the second year consecutively this will be conducted - an island-wide competition titled “One Map Sri Lanka” and targeting 2 groups;professional GIS users and GIS technologists and G.C.E. (Advanced Level) geography students. 
They are required to send in digitally (via email) a picture of a place/location that they considered to have some historical/cultural/environmental significance or importance from their own surroundings, along with an; interesting 50 word description, corresponding longitude and latitude exact coordinates(Geo coordinates),and their own details. All entries should be emailed to; [email protected].
For School children, this program will be conducted through the schools themselves.
This is the 4th year GIS Solutions is running this style of competition to commemorate ‘World GIS Day’ and we are highly encouraged by the responses received over the last few years.
All entries received will be added on to a special Sri Lanka digital GIS map called, ‘One Map Sri Lanka’, which will be launched at this year’s upcoming World GIS Day event.