Press Release: 7/15/2026

MassDOT Aeronautics Division Receives Esri Special Achievement in GIS Award

 

Award recognizes MassDOT’s innovative use of GIS technology to support drone operations, infrastructure inspection, construction monitoring, environmental assessment, and emergency response. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

7/14/2026

MEDIA CONTACT

Marshall Hook, Director of Communications

 Phone

Call Marshall Hook, Director of Communications at (857) 368-8500

 Online

Email Marshall Hook, Director of Communications at marshall.p.hook@dot.state.ma.us

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing today that the MassDOT Aeronautics Division is being awarded the Esri Special Achievement in GIS Award for its innovative use of geographic information system (GIS) technology to support transportation operations across the state. The award will be presented at the ESRI User Conference on July 14, 2026, in San Diego, California.  

The award is part of Esri’s annual Special Achievement in GIS Awards category, recognizing organizations globally that are using GIS technology in innovative, intelligent, and impactful ways. MassDOT Aeronautics was selected in the Department of Transportation category for its end-to-end imagery and data management ecosystem. 

The MassDOT Aeronautics Division has developed a comprehensive Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) program that supports a wide range of agency requirements. The UAS program collects and manages a wide range of aerial-related data including flight requests, imagery processing, storage, analytics, and secure sharing. The technology is then able to quickly disseminate high-quality image and related data across MassDOT as needed.  

“This award is a tremendous recognition of the innovation and collaboration happening across MassDOT,” said Interim Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng. “The Aeronautics Division has built a unique, scalable program that serves as a model for how transportation agencies nationally can collect and manage data. The data helps our teams make faster, more informed decisions on safety, reliability, resiliency, and efficient project delivery. This recognition is a testament to the innovative spirit that the Healey-Driscoll administration has championed since day one.  By using leading-edge technology to gather better information and share it across divisions, MassDOT is strengthening the way we serve communities throughout Massachusetts.” 

“We are honored to receive this recognition from Esri, which reflects the hard work of our Aeronautics team and the strong partnerships we have built across MassDOT,” said Aeronautics Division Administrator Denise Garcia. “Our goal has been to create a secure, scalable, and practical system that allows aerial imagery and data to be collected consistently, processed efficiently, and shared in ways that support operational needs. This award recognizes the progress we have made and the continued opportunity to use UAS and GIS technology to support MassDOT’s mission.” 

MassDOT’s Aeronautics Division continues to expand its use of UAS technology and geospatial data tools to meet widening transportation planning, operations, asset management, emergency response, and project delivery needs. Through its ArcGIS-based Aeronautics Data Hub, MassDOT has standardized data capture, metadata, and processing workflows to transform raw imagery, LiDAR, and 3D products into authoritative information layers. The platform supports a range of critical operational applications, including infrastructure inspection, construction monitoring, environmental assessment, emergency response, and can adapt to future advancements in artificial intelligence, digital delivery, and intelligent data automation. 

As background, the company presenting the award, Esri, is a global provider of geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping technology. Founded in 1969, the company’s software is used by organizations to analyze location-based data, support decision-making, and improve operational outcomes. Esri’s technology helps users apply geospatial analysis to a wide range of complex planning, infrastructure, environmental, and business challenges.

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