New York, December 15 -- The Center for Applied Studies of the Environment (CAPSE) of The Graduate School of The City University of New York and NYNEX Corporation collaborated today on a symposium that explored ways New York-based corporations could improve their performance through the use of Geographic Information Systems. The meeting was held at the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which include all mappable information, infrastructure, and other data, could directly augment corporate effectiveness in such areas as environmental impact, operations, facilities management, marketing, and enhanced public stature. Further, GIS is an industry that is doubling in sales every two years.
The day-long symposium on formulating an agenda for public/private partnerships to acquire and expedite geographically related information into the corporate decision process. Leaders from major New York corporations and CUNY faculty members and government officials with expertise in this area were among the participants.
Joseph J. Romm, Special Assistant for Policy and Planning to the Deputy Secretary of Energy, Washington, D.C., was the luncheon speaker. His talk was entitled "Lean and Clean Management: How to Boost Profits and Productivity by Reducing Pollution." Victor Goldsmith, Director of the CAPSE and a professor at The Graduate School and at Hunter College, CUNY, and Gary Jacobi, Director of Planning, NYNEX Entertainment and Information Services Company, co-hosted and also gave presentations.
Other participants included Thomas W. Donovan, Director of Management Planning and Information Systems Development, New York State Department of Environment Conservation; Ralph A. Balzano, Commissioner, New York City's chief information person; Michael Rogers, General Supervisor, Graphic Records, Brooklyn Union; personnel from Con Edison's "Vision" Project; Tom Dagon, Director, Environmental Affairs, Kodak; Michael Milligan, Manager, Civil and Facilities Engineering, LILCO; John Mollenkopf, a professor at the CUNY Graduate Scholl and Director of the School's Center for Urban Research; and Keith C. Clarke, Chair, Department of Geology and Geography, Hunter College.
The Center for Applied Studies of the Environment is one component of the CUNY-wide Applied Science Coordinating Institute, which was established in 1993 to facilitate cooperation between faculty and the business and industrial communities. CAPSE was formed, in part, to help business, industry, and government with their environmental problems.
One of many aspects of the Center's mission is to assist in exploring and developing methodologies to incorporate geographic information into the fundamental planning and operating process of major corporations, government agencies, and public institutions. In this regard, one conclusion resulting from this gathering is the need for an appropriate base map for industry data and an agreement among participants to mutually work toward this goal in future meetings to be held in early 1995.