City of Cape Town Hosts 'Intelligence' Expo

This is made possible by means of an intelligence network commonly known as a Geographic Information System (GIS) which is used by the City of Cape Town to obtain accurate information and make informed decisions in terms of service delivery to its 3,2 million residents.

To celebrate international GIS Day, the City is to host a GIS expo from 15 to 16 November 2006 at the Cape Town Civic Centre. This takes place from 09:30 to 15:30 in the Podium Hall, Concourse Level. Entrance is free to the public.

With the theme, "GIS is working for you", the two day event will be officially opened by Councillor Marian Nieuwoudt, Mayoral Committee Member for Planning and Environment on Wednesday, 15 November 2006, at 10:00.

Demonstrations and exhibitions will be given by 24 organisations including 13 City departments as well as an overseas company which will focus on SAP/GIS integration.

South Africa is one of 70 countries to host GIS Day events to show how geography and GIS technology make a difference in our lives. Just recently, the Department of Education introduced GIS into the Grade Ten school curriculum.

The City has invested a great deal of resources in its GIS to make better decisions, reduce costs, and create a framework to provide more informed, up-to-date, and relevant information.

With GIS, the City is able to track electricity and water consumption patterns, produce three dimensional models for major developments, identify transport logjams and biodiversity hot spots and calculate population densities.

GIS demonstrations will include a 'fly through' of the earth globe, zooming through the different layers of information, as well as a CCTV monitoring vehicle.

For more information on international GIS Day, please visit www.gisday.com

Issued by:
Lisle Brown
Media Liaison Officer
Tel: 021 400 3065
Directorate: Communication and Marketing
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 400 2201
Fax: 021 957 0023

Media queries:
Hannetjie Needham
Strategic Development Information and GIS
City of Cape Town
Cell: 084 629 1707
Email: hannetjie.needham@capetown.gov.za