Praising China for wholeheartedly embracing geographic information system (GIS) technology, ESRI president Jack Dangermond told university students and professors in Beijing yesterday that they’re helping turn GIS into one of the most important technologies of our time.

“GIS helps greatly in planning and decision making,” said Dangermond at Beijing Normal University, which bestowed upon him a visiting professorship during a two-day trip to the Chinese capital. “The technology provides the digital tools that abstract and organize geospatial data, model geographic processes, and visualize these data and models with advanced computer techniques. Your commitment toward and your academic initiatives with the technology will greatly benefit your nation in the future.”

Dangermond traveled to China to help launch GIS educational laboratories at two top universities: Beijing University and Beijing Normal University. The labs will use cutting-edge technologies provided by ESRI’s ArcGIS software that will help students learn how to use and apply GIS technology.

Beijing Normal University named Dangermond a visiting professor, citing his longtime dedication to and evangelism in the field of GIS. Speaking there to more than 400 geography and GIS students and professors from Beijing Normal, Beijing, Qinghua, and other universities, Dangermond shared his vision of how emerging GIS markets and technologies will develop in the years ahead.