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Alabama Homeland Security Wins Unprecedented 5th National Award for Innovation


August 18, 2008

 

Montgomery - Alabama Homeland Security’s Virtual Alabama program has won its fifth national award for technology innovation and achievement.

 

Government Computer News Magazine (GCN) selected Alabama’s Virtual Alabama program as a winner of the 21st Annual GCN “Outstanding Information Technology Achievement in Government” Award. GCN says this award recognizes Virtual Alabama as one of “government’s best and most notable IT accomplishments in advancing the work of agencies in serving the public.” Virtual Alabama was chosen from approximately 100 nominations nationwide.

 

“This is a program that many states want to have,” Governor Bob Riley said. “Fortunately, we have been successful in creating this program from the ground up and can now have a best practice to share with other states. I am very proud that Government Computer News recognizes how invaluable and innovative Virtual Alabama is to improving how we collaborate and share information.”

 

Virtual Alabama also won the GCN award, because it extends beyond homeland security and is being used for economic development, environmental management, conservation and natural resources, emergency management and agriculture segments to provide necessary information. County and municipal governments now supply over 90 percent of the state’s geospatial data to Virtual Alabama.

 

Currently, Virtual Alabama has over 3200 users and more than 550 local, state and federal agencies participating. The database houses satellite imagery and aerial photography of all 67 counties.

 

The Virtual Alabama team will be formally honored for the GCN Award in October. GCN plans to publish a special report highlighting Virtual Alabama in October as well.

 

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For more information, contact Lauren Bethune in the Alabama Department of Homeland Security at 334-956-7254.

 

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