Senator Montgomery Celebrates the Opening of the Pratt SAVI

On April 28, I was happy to join with faculty, students, and other elected officials at Pratt Institute to celebrate the official opening of the Spatial Analysis and Visualization Initiative (SAVI), the Institute’s research lab and service center focused on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the completion of its newly renovated, fully equipped facility in the ISC Building on the Brooklyn campus. SAVI’s renovated facility, which was made possible by the support of the New York City Council, will provide the Pratt community and outside organizations with GIS and data analysis resources, technical assistance and training, workshops, and more.

As a leader in information and visual studies and design thinking, Pratt recognized the need to have a dedicated facility on campus that would provide its students and faculty with access to GIS, a powerful analytical mapping tool. The technology allows location-based data to be gathered and visually displayed on maps to reveal patterns and relationships. In addition to serving the Pratt community, SAVI provides community-based organizations (CBOs) in New York City with access to GIS tools and training so that they are better equipped to understand and improve the quality-of-life of their constituents. And most impressively, for me, is Pratt's willingness to provide access to this advanced technology for use by the community!

“It is very exciting for Pratt’s SAVI to share GIS services with local non‐profit and community‐based organizations,” said Jessie Braden, co-founder and director of SAVI. “Easier access to these important resources helps better position community groups to contribute meaningfully to policy discussions and create visions for improving the quality of life and sustainability of their neighborhoods.”

With wonderful partners like this in the community, the future of Brooklyn just gets brighter and brighter!