GI data could boost Irish economy

IRISH economic recovery could be boosted by the Government following its US counterpart’s lead in adopting geographical information (GI) technology as a tool with which to improve investment planning and monitoring, it was claimed yesterday.

Speaking as part of a leadership summit in Dublin Castle, yesterday, on ‘Geographical Information’s central role in economic recovery’, Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) chief executive Geraldine Ruane said that GI technology is going a long way in solving US economic woes.

The Obama administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is using GI technology to deliver on expectations that the funds provided under its Stimulus Act are invested where they will achieve the greatest benefits and that initiatives are monitored to measure development and results.

The technology is helping to determine investment priorities, allocate investment, and measure value-for-money.

“Ireland can similarly use geographical information to transform its economy so that enterprises, both public and private, can improve efficiency, reduce costs and create new business opportunities,” Ms Ruane said.

Also speaking at the summit Patricia Cummens, global vice president of the ESRI Corporation (one of the world’s leading GI proponents) said that the ARRA investment “can only be successful if these funds are spent quickly and wisely”.

“They must be invested where they have the greatest positive impact and must be tracked to measure progress and outcomes.

“Geographical information not only provides the tools to achieve these planning and monitoring tasks, but is often a foundation resource in the execution of individual stimulus projects,” she added.