Annapolis (September 9, 2004) - Anne Arundel County has received the highly competitive 2004 ESRI Special Achievement in GIS Award for outstanding work in the Global Information Systems field. The award is given to organizations in recognition of their outstanding work in the Global Information Systems (GIS) field. Within the Office of Information Technology (OIT), the Geographic Information Services group is responsible for the standardization, coordination and dissemination of geographic information. The OIT GIS group now supports multiple departmental users including Public Works, Planning and Zoning, Inspections and Permits, Environmental and Cultural Resources, the Local Management Board and the Police and Fire Departments. In 2003, County Executive Janet S. Owens created the Office of Information Technology to provide better government services to accommodate the rapid population growth and growing needs of County citizens. | 
