ARCHIBUS and ESRI Form Strategic Partnership

Move allows customers of both companies to integrate GIS and facilities management data.

The first product resulting from this new relationship is ARCHIBUS' Geospatial Extensions for ESRI, which allows both ARCHIBUS and ESRI users to access and integrate geospatial information with facilities data from both companies' databases. The new Intuitive Business Transformation (IBT) environment reportedly uses real estate, infrastructure, facilities, and geographic information to enhance analytics and decision support.

"We are extremely pleased to be an ESRI Business Partner from the Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS) sector," said Bruce K. Forbes, ARCHIBUS president and founder. "The relationship provides a domestic launching pad for ARCHIBUS and ESRI to pursue business development opportunities, initially within the federal government, and then expand to state and local government, higher education, and a range of commercial and institutional users.

"The products, which have been created as a result of our collaboration, are not only the first of their kind, but will also set the stage for future IBT environments," Forbes added. "Organizations of all sizes will be able to optimize and document their business-transformation activities through their use of ARCHIBUS Geospatial Extensions for ESRI."

The ARCHIBUS Geospatial Extensions for ESRI use a single interface and deliver ARCHIBUS data and graphics within a range of ESRI products, including ArcIMS, ArcGIS Server, ArcGIS Desktop (including ArcScene), and ArcWeb Services.

"The combination of geospatial, facilities, and building data, along with demographic and other information, will vastly increase users' ability to more efficiently manage their operations at every level," said Jack Dangermond, ESRI CEO. "The insights that users will derive from these information synergies will be critical in remaining responsive to market trends, compliant with environmental and other government mandates, and proactive when it comes to decisions regarding where buildings are placed and how they are managed in relation to internal needs and external considerations."