WVDOT wins prestigious award for use of GIS technology

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Esri, a global leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology, presented the West Virginia Department of Transportation (WVDOT) with the Special Achievement in GIS (SAG) Award at the annual Esri User Conference (Esri UC). Selected from hundreds of thousands of candidates, WVDOT received the award for its innovative use of mapping and analytics software and for leadership in the field of Geospatial Technology.

Since 1998, the SAG Award has been given to organizations each year for their application of GIS to reveal patterns and trends from data to address pressing challenges across industries.

"Each year, users demonstrate how crucial mapping technology is for our connected world, where almost every critical problem we face has a geographic component," said Esri president Jack Dangermond. "Recognizing these organizations is an honor since they are using GIS to not only improve their own decision-making but are innovating through their work to the benefit of our whole geospatial community."

The WVDOT has launched a strategic initiative to enhance data transparency for both public and internal stakeholders. This effort has strengthened public trust, improved accountability, and supported data-driven decision-making across our operations.

WVDOT has moved beyond static data releases to provide a comprehensive, accessible platform featuring real-time or near-real-time information. This initiative sets a new standard for open government within the state's transportation sector and ensures our operations remain visible and accessible to all citizens.

"The integration of Esri's GIS technology has been a game-changer for how we communicate with the people of West Virginia," said West Virginia Transportation Secretary Todd Rumbaugh. "By leveraging these tools, we are providing citizens with unprecedented transparency through real-time data. Currently, our platforms allow the public to see our core maintenance plans-exactly when, where, and what work is being performed-as well as detailed updates on future, active, and completed construction projects. This geographic approach ensures that our infrastructure remains not just a physical asset, but a digital one that every West Virginian can access and understand."

"This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, whose focus remains on developing smarter solutions to improve operations and support our mission to build a data-driven organization," said WVDOT Chief Technology Officer Hussein Elkhansa. "We are proud to be recognized among leading organizations nationwide and remain committed to advancing technology that drives meaningful results for our agency and the people of West Virginia."​