GSS Receives Commendation

GeoSpatial Services at Saint Mary’s University was one of five partner organizations to receive a Minnesota Governor's Geospatial Commendation award for their work on the recent statewide NWI update project. These awards are given for activities that “exemplify a commitment to coordinated, affordable, reliable and effective use of GIS to improve services within Minnesota.” The updated NWI data will be used across all levels of government, as well as by private industry and non‐profit organizations, as an aid in wetland regulation and management, land use and conservation planning, environmental impact assessment, and natural resource inventories. With over two million polygons in the new dataset, it is one of the largest GIS datasets for Minnesota. Project partners also acknowledged in the commendation include the Minnesota DNR, Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the University of Minnesota, and Ducks Unlimited. More information on the project and a full list of SMUMN staff and students involved can be found in the award nomination papers.

Representatives of the project team accepting the award at the GIS/LIS Conference in St. Cloud. GSS representatives were unable to attend.