The introduction of new Internet networking technologies represents a new opportunity for Prescott and Russell to develop a regional expertise in a rapidly growing high tech sector - geomatics. Jointly with solid partners within the community, the Prescott-Russell à la carte project strives to develop and offer an Internet network complete with geographic information system products and services available for the virtual community of Prescott and Russell and the world.

    The project relies on the technological networking of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell Geographic Information System (GIS). A GIS is an application that allows qualitative databases to be attached to numerical maps to present a set of visual information layers. The manipulation of this data offers a powerful analytical tool that is adaptable to many situations and applications. The Geographic Information System of the United Counties of Prescott and Russell uses a desktop GIS software package operated on a Windows NT platform. Close to 100 layers of geographic information, over 5 gigabytes of data, make up the Prescott and Russell GIS. Until recently, access to application was limited, each user had to develop its own system according to his capabilities. With a contribution from Industry Canada, through its Francommunautés Virtuelles program, Prescott and Russell has adopted new information technology that allows for the presentation of GIS products and services on the Internet. In addition, in collaboration with Hunter GIS, a geomatics consulting firm, many tools have been developed which will permit the access and the use of cartography and related databases over the Internet. By adding this technological component to the United Counties of Prescott and Russell Geographic Information System, it is now possible to network the region's GIS with all the potential opportunities that this offers. The Prescott-Russell à la carte project consists of three portals designed to target many different GIS users.

    The first portal of the network offers access to the GIS for municipal services applications by the United Counties of Prescott and Russell and the eight municipalities of the region. This partnership has lead to the development of efficient tools for land use planning and public works. In the near future, emergency and environmental applications will be developed for the network. Municipalities will integrate Internet capabilities for their staff to facilitate use of the GIS network. It is hoped that daily usage of the GIS network will stimulate the demand for new developments and ultimately for the recruitment of qualified personel which we intend to develop in Prescott and Russell.