2018

JSC "Latvia's State Forests" Receives Recognition for Providing Open and Accessible Data

JSC "Latvia's State Forests" has received the award of the Latvian Open Technology Association (Latvijas atvērto tehnoloģiju asociācija - LATA) in the category "Most Open Institution".

The award was presented at the LATA Annual Conference "Open Technologies - from Data to Knowledge". Māris Kuzmins, Director LVM Business System Solutions, received the award and shared the experience of LVM in providing free access and open geospatial data and services.

The award in the category "Most Excellent Business Solution" was awarded to the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Latvia, while Rihards Olups was announced the winner in the category "Most Important Contribution to the Promotion of Open Technologies".

"In my opinion, it is a great honour to a state capital company to receive such a prize. We have been working with the issues associated with opening of data and technologies only for the last three years and this, of course, is a great motivation to continue our work. Since currently geospatial information technologies are a very topical issue for the company, we have started the data opening process with geospatial data and geospatial information. It's really a pleasure that these open data and data services are actively used by the interested parties," says Māris Kuzmins.

LVM works in the geospatial information technology sector, offering its products and services, as well as promoting the development of the industry, the availability of geospatial technology and data to both any Latvian company and individual. In collaboration with other companies and organizations, LVM has been working on opening of geospatial data and services in the country, since their availability is a key source of information for various industries. LVM not only engages in discussions, but also tries to show a good example by opening its geospatial information and providing free access.

LATA brings together organizations and individuals, including IT suppliers and users who see economic benefits of a wider use of open technologies in Latvia. The purpose of the LATA Annual Awards is to highlight and celebrate the contribution of the private and public sector, academic circles and private individuals to the development, use and promotion of open information and communication technologies in Latvia.