Sustainable Development

A plan to restore the magnificent River of Grass is visualized.

Podcasts URISA's GIS Corps—by Juna Papajorgji Afghanistan Information Management—by Neal Bratschun

How Is GIS Being Used? Presentations from the 2009 ESRI International User Conference.

Find a Solution We understand your challenges. Browse our business partners.

GIS is an important tool for helping people map out plans for successfully achieving management strategies that are sustainable both at local and global levels.

ESRI supports many sustainable development efforts throughout the world. Geographic information systems provide policy makers and planning agencies with visualization tools to manage growth and change.

• Assessment
• Prioritization
• Mitigation
• Planning
• Science
• Training

Success Stories

See how GIS is benefiting other organizations like yours.

• Willie Smits Shares Methodology for Sustainable Forests
• GIS Helps Construct Historic Bathymetry and Morphology Changes in Lake Okeechobee [PDF]
• Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom Manages Significant Growth
• GIS in Support of the Concentrating Solar Power Program

Agencies that Use GIS for a Better World

United Nations Environmental Programme created a portal www.unep.org that includes ArcGIS Server technology to manage and serve GIS on its Web site as well as those of contributing share holders. For example UNEP serves up global, national, subregional, and regional data at several GEO Data Portals.

South African Government program Working for Water uses GIS to monitor the environment while tackling poverty issues. GIS is used to identify areas in need of rehabilitation and manage and control its in-field operations. GIS in Africa [PDF]

Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society uses satellite imagery and GIS solutions to design management systems and set priorities for conservation of the environment. The Society's GIS center uses socioeconomic and biodiversity data to produce accurate maps and models. Read about how GIS is used for Saving Elephants by Helping People.

Take a look at other case studies and books and literature.