17 November 2004 Press Release Joburg City in the sixth global celebrations of GIS Day: 17 November 2004 In celebration of International GIS Day on 17 November 2004, the City of Johannesburg's Corporate GIS department opened its doors to showcase the pivotal role of maps and GIS technology in local government. Visitors were taken on guided tours through the directorate to experience how maps and GIS could change their business. Participants included a wide range of internal and external clients. Among them were the COJ departments, consultants, developers and even students, all curious to see GIS operations and its applications. They were amazed by the extent of the spatial database that covers an area of 1644 km2, which is larger than London, Sydney or New York. They also found out that the City contains about 600 000 stands and houses as well as over a million households, of which more than 200 000 households located in informal settlements. Visitors saw how GIS can be utilized in local government to plan general development, social facilities, land use, urban growth and to assess crime prevention strategies. It also was clear that, besides supplying data that can be used by council in making better-informed decisions affecting the City, the GIS information can be used by developers planning infrastructure and services, students studying architecture or urban planning, and ratepayers who need to know the zoning restrictions in their residential areas. Products of the directorate include standard or customized maps, digital data, aerial photography and property information like zoning and property dimensions. Services include thematic mapping, a fax service and an Internet mapping service. After the experience of the participants, you can also have courage and join them in search assessing City of Johannesburg's newest technology by gaining online access to its spatial data through via Internet Mapping Site at http://eservices.joburg.org.za/joburg/eservices/ (Click on IMS Online Maps). Issued on behalf of GIS by: Gabu Tugwana Communications Director Telephone: 011 407-7322 082-495-5673 Facsimile: 011 403-3494 Email: gabut@joburg.org.za