Esri Ireland revolutionises sustainable public transport projects for DBFL Consulting Engineers

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), is today announcing that it is transforming the delivery of more sustainable public transport projects for DBFL Consulting Engineers, one of Ireland’s leading consultancies for civil, structural and transportation engineering.

DBFL needed the ability to view, analyse, and share geospatial data and maps more extensively across both transportation and civil engineering projects. Esri designed a tailored solution based on its ArcGIS technology which is enhancing DBFL’s approach to complex project assessments. DBFL is extending its use of ArcGIS to gain insight into key issues such as sustainable transport.

For example, the technology has been used to visualise the proportion of people using private, public, and active transport for work trips in County Wicklow. The system is also enabling DBFL to analyse catchment areas and evaluate walking times to bus stops and train stations. It easily identifies barriers to public transport use and proposes new access routes for pedestrians and cyclists.

In addition, Esri’s ArcGIS is being used to conduct route, transport, and site audits in the field, including a recent audit of a proposed new cycle route in Dublin. Engineers can collect and upload data and images in real time from their mobile devices while walking these routes, and the information is uploaded directly to ArcGIS Online, a central system which can be accessed by all team members. DBFL is increasingly using the platform for communicating and sharing data with its clients.

Esri’s system is underpinning growth for DBFL, as the enhanced service offering is enabling the company to tender for an increasing number of projects. It’s more cost efficient as it accelerates the delivery of projects and reduces the need for written reports. Esri’s technology has also streamlined workflows for DBFL’s employees with increased collaboration and improved data sharing. DBFL anticipates that as many as 80 engineers, working on both transportation and civil engineering projects across the business, will use the technology as a vital part of their day-to-day work.

Danny Pio Murphy, Associate (Transportation), DBFL Consulting Engineers: “There is high demand for GIS analysis and digital mapping. Since expanding our use of ArcGIS, we have begun to attract more private and public sector clients who want GIS analysis and reports. ArcGIS Online is particularly effective for presenting our results in a non-technical way. Now that the technology is accessible to more engineers at DBFL, we can use it to add value to a larger number of projects, both in transportation and civil engineering. We are really pleased with the direction we are heading in; we are passionate about what we do and are happy that we can now make more use of ArcGIS to make cities safer and create a more sustainable world.”

 Jack Ffrench, Account Manager, Esri Ireland, said: “We are delighted to build on our valued partnership with DBFL Consulting Engineers. As one of Ireland’s leading engineering consultancies, the use of accurate and up-to-date geospatial data is crucial as its existing and prospective customers increasingly require geospatial data and analysis as part of new project specifications. By using ArcGIS, DBFL has been able to improve insights into complex engineering projects, lower costs, and scale its business. We look forward to continuing to build on this relationship and support the team in providing these important and innovative services.”

Esri maps Ireland’s summer 2023 festival circuit

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a digital map highlighting some of the best loved and lesser known festivals happening across the island of Ireland this summer.

Using Esri’s ArcGIS digital mapping system, the interactive map has something for all tastes and interests, allowing you to plan your ultimate festival adventure with ease.

Indulge in the tasty tunes at Forbidden Fruit in Dublin, dive into the inspiring realm of creativity at Wildroots in Sligo, let your senses be serenaded at the New Ross Piano Festival, and unleash your wild side at the electrifying Folk Festival in Cork. This essential map will serve as your trusted guide, leading you straight to the beating heart of Ireland’s vibrant festival culture this summer.

Link to map

Esri maps out routes as migratory birds return to Ireland

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a digital map highlighting the flight paths of a number of migratory birds which have returned to Ireland’s shores after having flown south for the winter. The maps are to mark World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), which falls on May 13th, an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats. Esri has also launched a survey asking for public participation to help it provide the most accurate information possible about the locations of the returning birds.

Around 450 different bird species have been recorded on the island, and although a lot of them are migratory and rare, now is the best chance to catch a glimpse of them as they return north to build nests and prepare for the breeding season.

This will be welcome news for any birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts out there, with birds such as the arctic tern, the manx shearwater, the swift, the sand martin, the cuckoo, the swallow, and the wheateater amongst the feathered friends calling Ireland home until the autumn.

The Arctic tern has travelled the furthest to pay us a visit, with its migration clocking in at a whopping 19,000KM, while you’ll have to be quick to see the swift. The bird lives up to its name and is one of the fastest birds in Ireland, reaching speeds of 112KM/H!

To help in the conservation efforts and allow for the most accurate mapping of these creatures as possible, people in Ireland can  share a photo and the location of the birds spotted using Esri Ireland’s survey. Everyone is encouraged to grab a pair of binoculars, get outdoors, and see what they can see!

Esri maps ancient Irish woodlands to celebrate National Tree Week #BiodiversityBeginswithTrees

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a digital map highlighting nearly 500 ancient and long-established woodlands around Ireland this National Tree Week, which runs until Sunday 26th March.

Ancient woodlands have been continuously wooded since before planting and afforestation became common practice, some of which date back to the 1600s. These woodlands are steeped in both biological and cultural significance, and their roots may even have links to prehistoric wildwoods.

The interactive map also explores a diverse range of woodland types, including conifer plantations, mixed woodlands, and those with non-native tree species.

The theme for National Tree Week 2023, #BiodiversityBeginswithTrees, aims to inspire the public to plant and protect trees and highlight the crucial role that trees play in improving biodiversity. Since its inception in 1985, National Tree Week has been responsible for planting over half a million trees in Ireland.

Esri maps best parades across the Emerald Isle this St. Patrick’s Day

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a digital map of some of the best parades, festivals and events happening across the country this St. Patrick’s Day.

Get your Gaelic groove on with Esri’s interactive map, which showcases a host of festivities to cater to all ages. Celebrate Ireland’s patron saint and marvel at spectacular floats, peruse the street artists, jig to ceilidh bands, feast at food stands, and have your ears tickled by enchanting yarn-spinners.

Whether you’re dancing in Belfast, going medieval in Kilkenny, or soaking up the culture in Waterford, this map will sham-rock your St. Patrick’s Day!

LINK TO MAPS

Esri maps influential women around the world and invites submissions from the public

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a digital map which celebrates inspirational women in Ireland and around the world for International Women’s Day which falls today, Wednesday 8th March.

Esri Ireland’s female employees have contributed to the map by sharing stories of influential figures who have made positive impacts on their lives. From architects in Africa and swimmers in Sydney to authors in America and botanists in Bantry, this interactive map demonstrates the influence of women across borders.

Esri Ireland is also inviting the public to share their own stories about women who have inspired them. These women can be anyone who serves as a role model, mentor, or source of motivation, whether they have made an impact through small acts in their daily lives or significant contributions in the public sphere. The aim of the map is to highlight ‘lesser-known’ women, showcasing the diversity and breadth of women’s contributions around the world.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #EmbraceEquity. The purpose is to encourage global conversations on why equal opportunities aren’t enough and why equal isn’t always fair. Everyone starts from a different place in life, so true inclusion involves equitable action. According to recent data published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), less than one-third (32%) of Ireland’s information and communications technology (ICT) workers are women.

Esri Ireland embraces a diverse workforce, 40% of which are female. All employees who join Esri Ireland are assigned a career coach who offers mentorship and guidance to help advance their career path.

Esri maps spooktacular events around Ireland this Halloween

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a digital map of some of the most fun, spooky and frightful happenings across the country this Halloween.

Using Esri’s ArcGIS digital mapping system, the interactive map highlights both popular events and hidden gems to suit all tastes. For those who want to get into the spirit, keep the kids entertained, or have a fun fright, our island has something for everyone to make this Halloween a spooktacular night.

From terrifying train rides in Belfast and haunted hayrides in Cork, to pumpkin trails in Offaly and family-friendly fall fests in Wexford, this map will help witches and wizards of all ages and interests plan their weekend for Halloween 2022.

Link to map here

Esri’s digital mapping system empowers Inland Fisheries Ireland to safeguard marine fish stocks

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), is announcing that its digital mapping system is being used by Inland Fisheries Ireland and the sea angling community in Ireland to help safeguard fish populations and protect marine ecosystems. Esri’s ArcGIS system supports the Irish Marine Recreational Angling Survey (IMREC) which aims to estimate sea anglers’ catches in Ireland. Up to 250,000 recreational sea anglers are active along the 3,000km of Irish coastline annually.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is Ireland’s state agency for protecting, managing and conserving inland fisheries and sea angling resources. To meet its EU data collection requirements around species, locations, and volumes of fish caught annually in European waters, Inland Fisheries Ireland saw a need for a collaborative approach to collate its own data with self-reporting by recreational sea anglers.

Turning anglers into citizen scientists, Esri’s Survey123 app has transformed reporting and enables anglers around Ireland to gather and upload real-time information from any device about the fish they catch and release. This information is then automatically transferred to a shared repository, called ArcGIS Hub, where it can be easily viewed by the anglers and monitored by Inland Fisheries Ireland to identify patterns in the species distribution, volumes and weight of fish caught, and estimated catch rates. Whether they are shore anglers, small boat anglers or charter boat anglers, each member has access to a personalised dashboard where they can track their own contributions and angling successes.

Inland Fisheries Ireland has greater control over and confidence in the accuracy and consistency of the data collected, and the system encourages anglers to play an active role in helping to conserve Ireland’s fish stocks. Data is aggregated for reporting and the system minimises manual data entry, is scalable and can grow with the scheme. The EU is particularly interested in data on cod, pollock, sharks, rays, sea bass and highly migratory species such as tuna, but the solution can be configured to capture data on other species too, giving Inland Fisheries Ireland flexibility for the future.

The state agency had success recently using Esri’s ArcGIS system to enable accurate reporting for a catch, tag and release programme for the critically endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna.

William Roche, Senior Research Officer at Inland Fisheries Ireland: “ArcGIS will enable us to recruit anglers as citizen scientists and crowdsource the large volume of data that we require for EU and national reporting. With more anglers collecting data, we will be able to build up a better picture of the state of fish stocks off Ireland’s coast, particularly for anglers. “The personalised dashboards will help to make the recording of data a habitual activity for anglers. We hope they will enjoy entering their catch data and take pride in their role as observers and stewards of Ireland’s fish stocks.”

Schalk Van Lill, Customer Success Manager, Esri Ireland: “We are delighted to work with Inland Fisheries Ireland on this project and enable the ongoing monitoring and safeguarding of fish populations. Our GIS solution has provided Inland Fisheries Ireland with a feasible and affordable way to capture additional data to complement the other data collected for the EU. “Citizen science like this provides broad spatial coverage all around the coastline of Ireland, enabling Inland Fisheries Ireland to efficiently comply with requirements. The solution can be easily scaled up to accept data uploads from more and more participants, allowing Inland Fisheries Ireland to expand the scheme over time.”

New Digital Map Showcases Dublin Street Art

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has created a new digital map of the growing volume of Dublin street art that is dotted throughout the city and county.

The street art is part of Dublin Canvas, an inclusive public art initiative that adds a flash of colour and creativity to the traffic control boxes that are highly visible at traffic junctions throughout Dublin. Currently, there are over 600 pieces of artwork spread throughout the county, and it is expected that there will be over 750 pieces completed by the end of Autumn this year.

Using Esri’s ArcGIS system, the interactive digital map pinpoints exactly where each box is located and provides an image of each piece. A simple click on the image provides information about the art, along with the background story of the artist.

The art is painted by exceptionally creative and talented amateur and professional artists residing in Dublin. They come from all walks of life and range from students to retirees, barristers to baristas, and engineers to editors.

Be it the artwork of squirrels in Stepaside, beasts in Blackrock or fishermen on Fitzwilliam Street, the map can be used to discover inventive artwork nearby. There’s a varying mix of themes to suit everyone, to brighten up the wait time at a red light or to get inspired on a summer stroll.

To view the map, go to https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/df0f78525b0440aa80bbd9bac7450376