GIS: What’s New To Help You
“GIS (geographic information system) is the next important information management system for government.” A bold statement and one that captures the conclusion we have reached in our roughly two year journey in facilitating state/local GIS efforts.
The power of this technology to “knit together the courthouse” was demonstrated at the KAC annual pre-conference workshop, “Maximizing Your Use of GIS.” Thanks to a collaborative effort between The Kansas Collaborative and Jefferson County, this workshop highlighted uses of GIS in planning and zoning, emergency services, road and bridge and beyond. In fact the real power was in seeing the connections between departments and the efficiencies gained when information was shared and paperwork eliminated. Four county commissioners also discussed their county’s journey and experience with GIS (Coffey County Commissioner Kimberly Skillman-Robrahn, Dickinson County Commissioner Joe Nold, Jefferson County Commissioner Dave Christy and Rooks County Commissioner Pat Hageman) with each concluding in their own way that this technology is important to an effective courthouse and is worth the investment.
An important and lasting resource came from this workshop, the Map Book as we all fondly refer to it. The Map Book again was the result of a collaborative effort with the Jefferson County GIS Department and is now available via download from our web site. Visit the Resource Center, GIS and click on the link called “Maximizing Your Use of GIS – Map Book.” You will then be linked with the Jefferson County GIS home page. At the bottom of their home page in a blue box is the file for the GIS Map Book. It is worth the time to download and worth the time to study.
There are a couple other new resources in the GIS portion of the Resource Center to assist you in your GIS efforts. Check out the Aerial Imagery Guidelines and the Digital Color Orthoimagery Scope of Work documents. The first document provides a good overview of aerial imagery and the second provides a document you can utilize as a contract with an aerial imagery vendor if you are acquiring 6 inch color imagery. Your resulting imagery will meet national map standards. The E-911 Board has been provided both documents.
In our March article we will talk more about our 2008 GIS efforts. Suffice it to say that the funding for our statewide GIS efforts has come to a conclusion. We have, however, secured some funding for a regional strategy in partnership with the South Central Homeland Security Regional Council. We think these efforts will prove to be an important pilot for other Homeland Security regions. Stay tuned next month for an update on what we are doing there.
Until next month…
Kathleen and Joel
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