Washington D.C. (November 13, 2019) – MAPPS along with four national geospatial, academic, engineering and science associations celebrated twenty (20) years of National GIS Day on Capitol Hill. Co-hosting with MAPPS was the American Association of Geographers (AAG), American Association State Geologists (AASG), American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), and the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC).
The 2019 GIS Day event featured an announcement regarding the re-establishment of the bipartisan House GIS Working Group, which is being co-chaired by Reps. John Curtis (R-UT) and Pete Aguilar (D-CA).
The evening reception was attended by members of each co-host association, MAPPS Board of Directors, congressional staffers, federal agency officials, and other interested parties. Representative John Curtis, Co-Chair of the new House GIS Working Group, spoke about the importance of the advancement and promulgation of geospatial and GIS technologies across the country and in within federal agencies and the legislative branch. The bipartisan House GIS Working Group will serve to help educate Congressional staff of GIS and geospatial related technologies and their application within the federal government. The celebration took place in the Longworth Office Building Natural Resources Hearing Room.
Association Co-Host Background
MAPPS – As the nonprofit association of private sector geospatial firms in the United States, MAPPS advocates to Congress for sound geospatial policy and program funding in Washington D.C. MAPPS members provide professional geospatial, surveying and mapping services to practically all Federal agencies, as well as, deliver innovative sensors and technology solutions to the profession.
NSGIC – A nonprofit organization led by state government geospatial information officers and coordinators, the National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC) promotes the coordinated, impactful, and cost-efficient application of geographic information systems (GIS) and other location-based information and analytics to best serve the nation, with emphasis on the power of initiatives and public policy that connect across local, state, tribal, federal, and private sector partners.
ACEC – The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of the nation’s engineering industry. ACEC member firms drive the design of America’s infrastructure and built environment. Founded in 1906, ACEC is a national federation of 52 state and regional organizations representing more than 5,600 engineering firms and 600,000+ engineers, surveyors, architects, and other specialists nationwide.
AAG – The American Association of Geographers (AAG), founded in 1904, is a nonprofit scientific and educational society established to advance geographic research, education, and applications. Its overt 12,000 members from more than 60 countries share interests in the theory, methods, and practice of geography, which they cultivate through the AAG’s Annual Meeting, four scholarly journals (Annals of the Association of American Geographers, The Professional Geographer, GeoHumanities, and the AAG Review of Books), and extensive research and outreach projects around the world.
America Association of State Geologist (AASG) – The Association of American State Geologists (AASG) is an organization of the chief executives of the state geological surveys in 50 states and Puerto Rico. The responsibilities of the various state surveys differ from state to state, depending upon the enabling legislation and the traditions under which the survey evolved. Almost all function as a basic information source for their state governments’ executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Some have regulatory responsibilities for water, oil and gas, land reclamation, etc.
About the Management Association of Private Photogrammetric Surveyors
MAPPS is exclusively a private sector organization focused on the needs of the membership by providing a forum for the mutual benefit of its members. It invites the participation of government employees, academicians, and technical papers only that directly support the objectives of MAPPS members. As a business association, MAPPS is dedicated to developing the growth and improving the bottom line profitability of its member firms. MAPPS provides valuable interaction with, but does not duplicate or compete with the technical programs of ACSM, ASPRS, URISA, GITA and other professional organizations. To learn more www.mapps.org