Bangor, Maine – Kappa Mapping received the Small Projects award in the annual MAPPS Geospatial Products and Services Excellence Awards competition. This marks the fourth consecutive year Kappa has been recognized by MAPPS.

Kappa’s winning entry – Mapping Fishing Gear and Lines to Reduce Whale Entanglements – used stereo-photography and photointerpretation to determine the density and location of buoys and lines, as many as four miles out to sea, along Maine’s coast.    

Now, Department of Marine Resources (DMR) scientists can anticipate potential points of convergence between vertical fishing lines and whale migration paths, accurately detect and report entanglements and help formulate fishery regulations to reduce entanglements, particularly of the critically endangered right whale.

“I’m delighted to have Kappa’s work acknowledged by this respected association and to showcase the services our firm provides to our clients,” said Kappa President Claire Kiedrowski.

The Bangor-based firm was recognized by MAPPS at a presentation ceremony Oct. 30 at the 2012 MAPPS/ASPRS Joint Specialty Conference in Tampa, Fla.

“Kappa Mapping was able to accomplish the project tasks in the face of many unforeseen obstacles by being flexible, innovative and motivated to produce the best possible outcome for all parties,” said Erin Summers, marine scientist for DMR.

Judges included Robert Burtch PS, CP of Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich., chairman of the judges’ panel; Christine "Kristi" Grahl, editor of POB Magazine and GeoDataPoint, Troy, Mich.; Robert Banzhoff, editor for surveying of Professional Surveyor Magazine, Haggerstown, Md,; Leonard Gilroy, AICP, director of government reform at Reason Foundation, Los Angeles; and Donn Dears, president of TSAugust.org, a nonprofit think tank conducting research on energy and economic issues in Geneva, Ill.

“This project once again demonstrated the ingenuity and ability for Kappa Mapping to work with clients to provide solutions that are within budget and have long lasting societal benefits on a daily basis,” said MAPPS Executive Director John Palatiello.