How Do Local Governments Share and Coordinate Geographic Information

This paper reports results of a project establishing best practices of local government geographic information sharing and coordination in the context of the United States ’ National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI). Sharing of geographic information within this framework can promote cost-effective data collection and utility for a larger number of agencies and communities. Bearing in mind that geographic information infrastructures are not placed in an ideal universe, but in a political environment, this paper presents local government perspectives on data sharing and coordination. Understanding these perspectives is an important element in developing supporting institutions for these relationships. The results of this project suggest that local governments remain largely unaware of SDI concepts and assess the benefits of sharing geographic information in a limited time frame and with an emphasis on supporting and maintaining existing administrative and political relationships. Best practices need to better connect local government needs and constraints to SDI policy issues