Hit TV Show Honored at 21st Esri User ConferenceThe District Makes a DifferenceThe hit CBS TV crime drama--The District--attracted millions of viewers in its inaugural season. The District has been a showcase for GIS and its use in combating crime. Riding the wave of excitement generated from the series, The District made an impression on the attendees of the 21st Annual Esri International User Conference in July. Esri's Making a Difference Award went to CBS, producers of The District, and its stars Lynne Thigpen and Craig T. Nelson. Thigpen, who plays Ella Farmer, director of crime analysis, Metro Police Department, Washington, D.C., accepted the award. Thigpen attended the Map Gallery Session, where she signed autographs and met real-life GIS users. She said, "GIS has helped us make a difference by sharing geographic knowledge and educating the public about national problems." "It was great that Lynne Thigpen received the award, because the entertainment she brings to users, with the use of GIS, is really making a difference in exposing GIS to such a large audience," says John Calkins, senior Esri staff member and consultant on the show. "The show brings to light the significance of geography. Viewers were able to see the use of geographic databases, thematic mapping, spatial modeling, and other concepts." "The first season was exciting," says Lew Nelson, Esri's Law Enforcement Solutions manager. "It was fun to see crime mapping exposed to a whole new audience. Law enforcement officials who have been doing computer spatial analysis and visualization can point to the show as an introduction to their very important work. It's a fictional television drama, but many of the concepts are those used by professionals today." For more information, contact John Calkins, Esri (e-mail: jcalkins@esri.com). |
