9 March 2009: The City of El Segundo, California has launched a new online application that allows users to automatically see news for geographic areas being viewed in maps or aerial imagery. The system, known as GeoXray, was developed by El Segundo based Geosemble Technologies for use as an online business and community information access tool. Users simply access the website, look at an area of the city, and then click on buildings to see what businesses are there and what news they have made. The city has integrated a subset of its database such that buildings, businesses, parks, schools and other public locations can be clicked on, viewed, and automatically linked to published news about that location.

The City’s Business Recruitment Task Force, composed of Mayor Kelly McDowell, Mayor Pro Tem Eric Busch, and several key business leaders, envision the new mapping service will support key corporate and retail business development objectives for El Segundo. “When businesses consider a new lease location, there are many factors that go into the decision”, said Bill Crowe, Assistant City Manager. “These include who else is in the building, what businesses are in the area, how are companies doing, where will employees park, eat, and so forth. GeoXray literally puts these answers at your fingertips”, he said.

Economic development managers also see advantage for retail businesses, whose customers can now get full geospatial context around their stores and be induced to come for a three or four stop visit, rather than just a single stop. Residential real estate is also expected to benefit, as prospective buyers gain a richer sense of neighborhoods and surrounding areas.

The Website can be accessed at: http://www.elsegundobusiness.com/
El Segundo-based Geosemble Technologies provides automatic techniques for integrating and displaying geospatial information, including maps, aerial imagery, news, events, databases, businesses and more. For more information please visit www.geosemble.com