March 12, 2005 -- Aurora, CO USA - Merrick & Company, a world leader in LIDAR, digital ortho imaging, photogrammetry and GIS mapping announces the award of the City of San Diego Photogrammetric Mapping Project 2005. Beginning with LIDAR data collection, Merrick will provide a DTM and 1"=100' 3-inch pixel resolution color digital orthophotography for the entire 370 square mile area of the City. In order to address lean issues associated with photographing tall buildings, Merrick will also provide true orthophotography of a 2.2 square mile area in the downtown central business district. Awarded in February 2005, the City will receive final delivery in October 2005.

"We evaluated all received proposals for technical experience, technical approach, and cost. Merrick delivered a superior technical proposal and had very reasonable pricing," states Lisa Lubeley, GIS Program Manager for the City of San Diego.

"The City last updated their data in 1999. The new 3-inch digital orthophotography will offer even more clarity and visibility of above ground features," explains Gary Outlaw, Vice-President - Business Development, GeoSpatial Solutions.

This project resulted from a strong corroboration between the City's GIS Advisory Committee representing 18 departments and the CADD Advisory Committee representing multiple departments including Engineering. "Instead of contracting for site-specific aerial photography on a project-by-project basis, the new citywide data will allow us to realize an anticipated savings of $80,000-$90,000 per year," explains Lubeley.

The City also included a public agency clause in the RFP that allows other public agencies to utilize the City's RFP vendor selection and enter into their own contracts with the selected vendor. As a result, an additional fifteen local agencies will have Merrick deliver similar aerial photography and LIDAR products.

Visit the City of San Diego on the web at www.sandiego.gov.

About Merrick & Company

Founded in Denver in 1955, Merrick & Company is a world-leading multidisciplinary engineering, architectural, GIS/mapping, and construction management firm. The employee-owned company provides these services to municipal, state, federal, and private-sector clients. With approximately 500 employees, Merrick has offices in Aurora and Colorado Springs, CO; Los Alamos and Albuquerque, NM; and Atlanta, GA.

Press Contact:

Gary Outlaw, Vice President- Business Development, GeoSpatial Solutions
Tel.: (Cell) 303-520-4719; (Office) 800-544-1714, ext. 3901
E-mail: Email Contact
Web: www.merrick.com/gis