Intergovernmental Information Technology & Telecommunications Plan – The GIS Workgroup Final Report

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology uses computers to organize and analyze complex data through digital mapping. The GIS Work Group of the Intergovernmental Information Technology & Telecommunications (IITT) Task Force studied issues related to the implementation of GIS technology in all levels of the public sector as well as the private sector. First used in Iowa\u27s academic institutions in the mid-1970s, GIS has in the last eight years become an integral data management tool in private business and in state, city, county, and federal offices. Applications vary widely, and include such diverse applications as management of emergency and utility services, inventories of natural resources, and retail marketing studies. Iowans would benefit enormously from the expanded use of GIS in both the public and private sectors. To achieve the goal of widespread, efficient use of GIS in the public sector, public institutions and organizations, along with units of local government, will need to share fiscal resources and technological expertise; will need to develop cooperative GIS training programs; and will need to develop guidelines regarding data format, access, and retention. One function of GIS is to refine/distill voluminous data to manageable, meaningful proportions (examples from police departments, assessors offices, various departments in universities, and census data). An important step toward achieving the widespread and efficient use of GIS in the public sector is improved coordination of resources among and within agencies at every governmental level. Some agencies would benefit from the establishment of a core staff that would oversee GIS implementation and expansion. Others will need to rely on formal and informal intergovernmental networks for technical support and coordination. Standards for GIS information development, exchange, and interpretation already exist. State government should have a role in the oversight of GIS standards use in Iowa. The use of these standards will be important as more information is developed and used by growing numbers of entities. This growth in GIS user numbers will be fueled by rapidly improving and lower cost GIS hardware and software. This growth in user numbers also creates an expanding number of potential cooperation and partnering opportunities between organizations (both in the public and private sectors). A wide range of social and economic impacts across these sectors is anticipated. While most of these impacts are positive, there are potential pitfalls that need to be mitigated for, including privacy, confidentiality, data ownership, and other issues. The GIS Work Group report includes one project proposal which address the primary issues discussed in the report. This project includes providing for an authorized Iowa Geographic Information Council to oversee standards and facilitate inter-organizational cooperation. This project will also increase the capability of an existing Iowa Geospatial Information Clearinghouse, which will improve access to GIS data from a large number of sources. The final component for this project provides for a coordinated approach to education and training on GIS technology and applications at all levels