Jack Dangermond
Encyclopedia
Jack Dangermond is an American
business executive and environmental scientist. In 1969, he co-founded with his wife Laura the Environmental Systems Research Institute
(Esri), a privately-held Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) software company. In 2009, with an estimated net worth of $2 billion, Dangermond joined the Forbes 400
list of richest Americans.
Dangermond is the company's President and Chief Executive Officer and works out of Esri's headquarters in Redlands, California
. Dangermond founded Esri to perform land use
analysis, however its focus evolved into GIS software development, highlighted by the release of Arc/INFO in the early 1980s; the development and marketing of Arc/INFO positioned Esri with the dominant market share among GIS software developers. Today Esri is the largest GIS software developer in the world and its flagship product, ArcGIS
traces its heritage to Dangermond's initial efforts in developing Arc/INFO.
, as the son of immigrants. His parents owned a plant nursery in Redlands. Dangermond attended Redlands High School
Dangermond completed his undergraduate work at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
(Cal Poly Pomona), studying landscape architecture and environmental science. He then earned a Master of Science degree in environmental science from the University of Minnesota
, and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the Harvard University
Graduate School of Design GSD
in 1969. His early work in the school's Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis (LCGSA) led directly to the development of Esri's ArcInfo
GIS software. He has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from institutions including Ferris State University
, University of Redlands
, University of West Hungary
, City University
in London, England, and from the University of Minnesota
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
business executive and environmental scientist. In 1969, he co-founded with his wife Laura the Environmental Systems Research Institute
ESRI
Esri is a software development and services company providing Geographic Information System software and geodatabase management applications. The headquarters of Esri is in Redlands, California....
(Esri), a privately-held Geographic Information Systems
Geographic Information System
A geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
(GIS) software company. In 2009, with an estimated net worth of $2 billion, Dangermond joined the Forbes 400
Forbes 400
The Forbes 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by Forbes Magazine magazine of the wealthiest 400 Americans, ranked by net worth. The list is published annually in September, and 2010 marks the 29th issue. The 400 was started by Malcom Forbes in 1982 and treats those in the list like...
list of richest Americans.
Dangermond is the company's President and Chief Executive Officer and works out of Esri's headquarters in Redlands, California
Redlands, California
Redlands is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 68,747, up from 63,591 at the 2000 census. The city is located east of downtown San Bernardino.- History :...
. Dangermond founded Esri to perform land use
Land use
Land use is the human use of land. Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. It has also been defined as "the arrangements, activities and inputs people undertake in a certain land cover...
analysis, however its focus evolved into GIS software development, highlighted by the release of Arc/INFO in the early 1980s; the development and marketing of Arc/INFO positioned Esri with the dominant market share among GIS software developers. Today Esri is the largest GIS software developer in the world and its flagship product, ArcGIS
ArcGIS
ArcGIS is a suite consisting of a group of geographic information system software products produced by Esri.ArcGIS is a system for working with maps and geographic information...
traces its heritage to Dangermond's initial efforts in developing Arc/INFO.
Early life
Jack Dangermond grew up in Redlands, CaliforniaRedlands, California
Redlands is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 68,747, up from 63,591 at the 2000 census. The city is located east of downtown San Bernardino.- History :...
, as the son of immigrants. His parents owned a plant nursery in Redlands. Dangermond attended Redlands High School
Redlands High School
Redlands High School is located in Redlands, California, United States. Founded in 1891, it is the oldest public high school in the State of California still functioning on its original site and the first "unified high school" formed from three elementary school districts...
Dangermond completed his undergraduate work at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...
(Cal Poly Pomona), studying landscape architecture and environmental science. He then earned a Master of Science degree in environmental science from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Graduate School of Design GSD
Harvard Graduate School of Design
The Harvard Graduate School of Design is a graduate school at Harvard University offering degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning and Design.-History:...
in 1969. His early work in the school's Laboratory for Computer Graphics and Spatial Analysis (LCGSA) led directly to the development of Esri's ArcInfo
ArcInfo
ArcInfo is a full-featured geographic information system produced by Esri, and is the highest level of licensing in the ArcGIS Desktop product line. It was originally a command-line based system...
GIS software. He has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees from institutions including Ferris State University
Ferris State University
Ferris State University is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally in the US Senate where...
, University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
, University of West Hungary
University of West Hungary
The main campus of the University of West Hungary is located in Sopron.-Colleges:* College of Apáczai Csere János Teacher Training College in Győr* College of Benedek Elek College of Pedagogy in Sopron* College of Forestry in Sopron...
, City University
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
in London, England, and from the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
.
Awards and honors
Dangermond has had a strong impact on the development of GIS methodologies, the GIS software market, GIS technology research and related analytical methods. He has received many awards reflecting the influence of his work, including:- the Cullum Geographical MedalCullum Geographical MedalThe Cullum Geographical Medal is one of the oldest awards of the American Geographical Society. It was established in the will of Major General George Washington Cullum , the vice president of the Society, and is awarded "to those who distinguish themselves by geographical discoveries or in the...
of the American Geographical SocietyAmerican Geographical SocietyThe American Geographical Society is an organization of professional geographers, founded in 1851 in New York City. Most fellows of the society are Americans, but among them have always been a significant number of fellows from around the world... - the EDUCAUSE Medal of EduCause
- the Horwood Award of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association
- the Anderson Medal of the Association of American GeographersAssociation of American GeographersThe Association of American Geographers is a non-profit scientific and educational society founded in 1904 and aimed at advancing the understanding, study, and importance of geography and related fields...
- the John Wesley Powell AwardJohn Wesley Powell AwardThe John Wesley Powell Award is a United States Geological Survey honor award that recognizes an individual or group, not employed by the U.S...
of the U.S. Geological Survey. - the Carl Mannerfelt Gold Medal of the International Cartographic AssociationInternational Cartographic AssociationThe International Cartographic Association , French Association Cartographique Internationale , is an organization formed of national member organizations, to provide a forum for issues and techniques in cartography...
- the Patron's Medal of the Royal Geographical SocietyRoyal Geographical SocietyThe Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
in 2010. - the Alexander Graham Bell Medal of the National Geographic SocietyNational Geographic SocietyThe National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
in 2010, together with Roger TomlinsonRoger TomlinsonRoger F. Tomlinson, CM is an English geographer and the primary originator of modern computerized Geographic Information Systems , and has been acknowledged as the "father of GIS".Dr...
.
External links
- O'Reilly Media - Gov 2.0 Summit stage presentation - Dangermond/Bartlett GeoEnabling Gov 2.0 (September 2009)
- C-Span Interviews From the Gov 2.0 Summit Dangermond segment starts around 22:30 (November 2009)
- ComputerWorld interview The Grill: GIS pioneer Jack Dangermond on the future of mapping technologies (July 2009)
- Government Computer News interview The next step for agency GIS: shared services [November 2009)
- Investor's Business Daily article Jack Dangermond’s Digital Mapping Lays It All Out (August 2009)
- Computerworld Interview GIS as a Game Changer (August 2009)
- Government Technology Interview Q&A with Jack Dangermond (May 2009)
- Jack Dangermond, Esri President - Biographical information on Esri's Web site
- Biography - Center for Spatially Integrated Social Science (CSISS) Advisory Board members