The International Cartographic Association (ICA) presented ESRI President Jack Dangermond with the Carl Mannerfelt Medal this morning.

The Mannerfelt Gold Medal is the ICA's highest honor, first awarded in 1980 to recognize extraordinary merits in cartography including the conception, production, dissemination, and study of maps. Dangermond is only the 11th recipient of the medal.

A delegation from ICA was on hand to present the award, including Professor William Cartwright, president, ICA, Professor Milan Konecny, immediate past-president, ICA, Dr. Tim Trainor, vice president, ICA and Professor Robert McMaster, former vice president, ICA.

Dangermond was presented with the Mannerfelt Medal to recognize his development of new cartographic tools, the creation of digital atlases, and his promotion of cartography. Especially innovative is ESRI's use of maps and GIS to assist in many areas of human activities, ranging from crisis management in disasters, such as the recent cyclone in Myanmar, to issues of health and geography.

A few knowledge-sharing and capacity-building activities Professor Konecny commended Dangermond on include:

  • United Nations (UN) Global Mapping-Providing opportunities for young users to be part of the development of cartography through grants awarded to those working with cartography in solving problems in the contemporary world.
  • Highlighting and promoting, together with ICA, the best drawings from the Barbara Petchenik Contest in the book Children Map the World: Selections from the Barbara Petchenik Children's World Map Competition.
  • Publishing classic cartography books such as Eduard Imhoff's Cartographic Relief Presentation, which help share the ideas of cartographers from around the world

Dangermond thanked the delegation, commenting: "It is such a privilege to provide the software and tools giving our users the capability to create real change in our world. This award exemplifies the mission of ESRI. I can think of no better place to receive this award than here at the ESRI International User Conference, where we are surrounded by thousands of people who use cartography in innovative ways every day."