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GIS Coordination History in Oregon
Project Mission and Goals
Definition
of GIS Utility
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Management Manual
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Sources: Benefits
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RFP
Draft
GIS Utility Business Case
GIS
Strategic Plan (2001)
Oregon
Framework Data Themes
IRMD
Strategy (2002)
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Statewide Data and Technology Survey
(password required)
Link
to Web Survey
FAQs
PDF
(hard copy) version
Natural
Hazards Survey
(password required)
Link
to Web Survey
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Geospatial
Enterprise Office
Oregon
Data Standards
Oregon
Geographic Information Council
DAS—Information Resources
Management Division
Oregon
Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
GIS
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PlanGraphics
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Updated
What is a GIS Utility, and how will it work?
What is the role of Oregon's Geospatial Enterprise Office?
How will the GIS Utility be funded?
How can my jurisdiction access the funds and/or resources controlled by this GIS Utility?
When will the GIS Utility be available?
What is a GIS Utility, and how will it work?
- Oregon is somewhat uniquely positioned to implement what we are calling a "GIS Utility" that can provide a loosely-confederated central infrastructure for the development and maintenance of accurate and complete framework geospatial data, and for the dissemination, coordination and use of geospatial information technologies and services. Since the Utility concept focuses on the coordinated communication of geospatial data and resources, it will be able to provide as-needed access to both proprietary and public data sets, using appropriate licensing and authentication technologies as controls.
- In general, a utility refers to a basic public service provider that is given special regulatory status in exchange for satisfying consumers' best interests. There are many ownership styles for utilities, including government-owned, non-profit, co-operatively owned, or a combination of these, and utilities traditionally provide water, energy, transportation, or telecommunications services (see ORS 757.005). The geospatial base layer datasets, and to some extent the skills by which those data are manipulated in support of decision-making, can be considered a public utility in the sense that (a) the acquisition and maintenance of these data layers are both expensive and in the public interest, (b) the distribution of those data must be as widespread as possible so as to support an informed citizenry and executive decision-making, and (c) comparable data sets are unavailable, outdated, or prohibitively expensive in the private sector.
- The GIS Utility is only in its beginning phase, so we do not completely know what it will look like or how it will work. But that is the reason we have undertaken this broad web-survey! We are trying to understand/establish the baseline of Oregon's investment in geospatial information and technologies at all levels of governance (local, regional, county, state, tribal, and federal), throughout the non-governmental organizations, in private industry, and by the general public. We expect that the framework data elements identified by the Oregon Geographic Information Council will be completed statewide in as few as three years, and that one important result of that effort will be the ability for statewide (cross-jurisdictional) planning and analysis to be regularly carried out, and that concomitant cost savings will be found across all levels of government.
What is the role of Oregon's Geospatial Enterprise Office?
- The Geospatial Enterprise Office (GEO), a small group working within the Oregon Department of Administrative Services' Information Resources Management Division under the direction of the State CIO, is managing the "Requirements Analysis and Business Case for a GIS Utility" contract, which was awarded to PlanGraphics, Inc., of Frankfort, Kentucky. The first part of that contract calls for the analysis of spatial data holdings, geospatial technology resources, and cooperative data agreements across Oregon, and the device that was selected for the research and discovery phase of the analysis is a web-based survey of Oregon GIS professionals and the organizations for which they work. The Geospatial Enterprise Office, therefore, is providing the umbrella of coordination and cooperation through which the research and analysis that is required for the business case is carried out.
Why should I spend time/resources responding at this time, since we do not know how or if we will be able to or want to use the GIS Utility? How do we know if the Utility will be built?
- The GIS Utility is being built already, albeit very slowly, through the Oregon Framework Implementation Team and through the small biennial funding approved by the Oregon Geographic Information Council. In fact, it is very likely that you are already reaping the benefits of coordinated investment in geospatial data undertaken by the Geospatial Enterprise Office (specifically, the statewide orthoimagery datasets compiled from the 1994-1996 and 2000-2001 National Aerial Photography Program). Many other efforts are also underway to collect, improve, and disseminate framework geospatial data sets. Primarily, this current effort is designed to accelerate the production of those data sets, and to ensure their regular maintenance and wide dissemination. Your contribution of time, energy and knowledge about the availability of geospatial data for your jurisdiction (and, conversely, any lack of availability) will help to solidify a business case for increased (re-directed) funding.
How will the GIS Utility by funded?
- We do not expect that the Business Case for a GIS Utility will require immediate new budgetary expenditure. We believe that there are currently sufficient dollar and personnel resources within existing state and local agency budgets to apply sufficient leverage to federal and other funding sources to fully develop the framework data sets, the robust data communication/computation environment, and the staffing needed to be successful.
How can my jurisdiction access the funds and/or resources controlled by this GIS Utility?
- At this point, no decisions have been made about fund allocation, sharing of resources, or other details regarding financial support for GIS Utility development. This survey is one step in the design and planning process that will help make sound and practical decisions on resourcing the GIS Utility development and operation.
When will the GIS Utility be available?
- To some limited extent, the Utility is available right now through the Spatial Data Library hosted at http://www.gis.state.or.us. Unfortunately, those data are not necessarily current or quality-checked beyond a bare minimum. It is our expectation that the framework development aspect of the Oregon GIS Utility will be completed by July 2007.
By answering this survey, am I committing my jurisdiction's resources and/or support to the GIS Utility concept?
- No. Your response to this survey will be of great value to the GIS Utility planning process but it implies no commitment of resources or support for the project. You will be kept informed about the progress and will be given the opportunity later to participate. Please be aware that your individual survey results will not be distributed to outside parties but will be part of summary reports in which all responses will be presented in aggregated form.