The Oregon State Marine Board was recognized for its innovative mapping and digital applications for setting new standards during its annual conference in July. The agency received the 2024 ESRI Special Achievement in GIS Award, based on nominations by ESRI leadership and distributor organizations, with finalists selected by ESRI President, Jack Dangermond.
“The ESRI platform has made real-time geospatial data and information something we can make available to Oregonians, to help them plan for a fun and safe time on the water,” says Joe Severson, Geographic Information Systems Coordinator. “Everything from locations of waterway obstructions or life jacket loaner stations to using digital apps so marine law enforcement partners can report where they are on the water and record the types of contacts they’re making. The maps and apps are also mobile friendly and accessible on any device.” Additionally, the agency’s Boat Oregon Online Map (BOOM) has various data layers including shapes around areas on waterbodies where regulations may differ. For example, a reservoir may have an area for electric motors only, and slow-no wake just around structures. By differentiating boating rules by different colors, users can easily discern how they need to operate their watercraft.
“The agency leveraged technology to improve boating safety in tandem with reducing the administrative burden of paper forms once used by our law enforcement partners,” says Brian Paulsen, Boating Safety Program Manager. “At any given moment, we can get a real-time look at our enforcement efforts across the state, analyze boater compliance for equipment requirements or operational violations, and also track the education and outreach efforts by our Boating Safety Advocates. Historically, we had a stack of papers with little geospatial value or ways to measure our overall impact on boaters. Now with this modernized approach, we gather useful data and can quickly implement improved outreach around safety and other requirements.”
This award also represents Marine Board employees’ dedication to improving agency operations. “As a small agency, we are honored to receive an award acknowledging our commitment to serving Oregon boaters. The staff at the Marine Board work hard every day behind the scenes to make this happen,” says Larry Warren, the agency’s director. “This award signifies the strong internal collaboration needed for the agency to be successful.”
Learn more about Oregon’s recreational boating agency at Boat.Oregon.gov and see the numerous maps and apps.