Redlands, California―February 02, 2011―Mapping the Nation: GIS for Federal Progress and Accountability, the latest offering from Esri Press, presents a dynamic collection of maps that graphically illustrate some of the many ways geographic information system (GIS) technology is currently being used throughout the federal government.

The book is divided into seven strategic areas of government that use maps created with GIS technology to support mission-critical operations and daily tasks: land and natural resources; health and human services; science and exploration; law enforcement, public safety, and homeland security; global affairs; tribal interests; and defense.

Mapping the Nation also highlights how GIS is being used to embrace new initiatives, such as the Gov 2.0 movement, which uses information technology to

• Improve government services.


• Increase transparency and accountability.


• Promote citizen engagement.

Esri president Jack Dangermond says, "Mapping the Nation offers insight into how federal organizations and agencies are employing GIS, from day-to-day operations to special projects. It also highlights how GIS continues to facilitate the development of new, spatially enabled information systems to meet the evolving needs of government and citizens."

The U.S. government was an early adopter of Esri's GIS technology, first implementing it more than 30 years ago. GIS has since become an essential part of the federal decision-making process. Mapping the Nation features current government mapping projects that attest to the power of geography and GIS technology to address social, economic, and environmental concerns throughout the United States.

Mapping the Nation: GIS for Federal Progress and Accountability (ISBN-13: 978-1-58948-286-9, 140 pages, $19.95) is available at online retailers worldwide, at esri.com/esripress, or by calling 1-800-447-9778. Outside the United States, visit esri.com/esripressorders for complete ordering options, or visit esri.com/distributors to contact your local Esri distributor. Interested retailers can contact Esri Press book distributor Ingram Publisher Services.

About Esri Press

Esri Press publishes books on GIS, cartography, and related topics. The complete selection of GIS titles from Esri Press can be found on the web at esri.com/esripress.

About Esri

Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS technology, Esri software is used in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at esri.com/news.



Contact:

Jim Baumann
Esri
Tel.: 909-793-2853, extension 1-1807
E-mail: press@esri.com