The Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) by Local Governments Giving municipal decision-makers the power to make better decisions
Case Study: Examples of GIS Usage by Local Governments in North Carolina
In municipal offices, GIS is capable of... Rapidly expanding available spatial information bases Enhancing the analysis of available options Streamlining the decision-making process Dramatically improving the ability of elected officials to select the best course of action
Legislative Redistricting Traffic Accident Referencing & Analysis Geographic Hurricane Storm Surge Information Inundation Areas WATER SUPPLY WATERSHEDS Systems Swine (GIS) Farm Buffers Road Corridor Selection HOSPITAL MARKET AREAS Statewide Land Cover Data Giving decision-makers Statewide Land the Cover power Data Aerial Photography to make Basemaps better decisions. Water & Sewer Inventory WETLAND PROTECTION Managing Storm Water Runoff
Corporate Geographic Database Framework Data Thematic Data Land Ownership Transportation Surface Waters Boundaries Geodetic Control Elevation Aerial Imagery Flood Zones Wetlands Landcover Water Lines Sewer Lines Soils
GIS can give elected officials the power to do things that were not feasible or practicable before
The power to understand complex relationships Forsyth County: Water Supplies & Water Delivery System
The power to plan for the future, based on an accurate picture of the present
The power to present data in a clear, compelling way
The power to make informed decisions
The power to save time, money and even lives
GIS can be applied to: Crime reduction Public safety enhancement Siting new schools Redistricting Floodplain mapping Growth management Disaster recovery Tax mapping Economic development School bus routing Fire station location Land conservation Environmental impact studies Water & sewer expansion Superfund cleanup
The following provides specific examples of how communities across North Carolina have successfully applied GIS in the solution of real-world problems
Situation #1: The City of Wilson needed to locate a new fire station
Wilson, N.C. Without GIS: necessary to drive all the roads in the city manually determine times and distances to each household and business allow a year to complete the study
Wilson, N.C. With GIS: ran more than 40 computer scenarios in just 3 days analyzed benefits of building a new station versus moving an existing one determined best solution: relocate two existing stations
Wilson, N.C. Results: reduced the time required to reach all locations in the city from 7 minutes to 4 minutes over 5 years, the city saved an estimated $2M in building costs, equipment, salaries, etc.
Situation #2: Catawba County decided to step up the promotion of economic development in their county
Catawba County, N.C. Without GIS: no central source for all of the data that land developers needed not all of the data needed by land developers was even available inefficient, slow data gathering and dissemination process
Catawba County, N.C. With GIS: created a "one-stop shop" for developers all relevant data made available in one place increased efficiency & reduced time to deliver data
Results: Catawba County, N.C. improved image of county among developers (more attractive to investment) GIS office acted as the point of first contact between developers and the municipality increased job opportunities & expanded tax base
Situation #3: The Neuse River Foundation needed to know how to protect this water resource
Neuse River Foundation Without GIS: critical data spread among a myriad of manuals & reports in different locations impossible to quickly locate potential sources of water contamination unable to adequately assist & support volunteer water monitors
Neuse River Foundation With GIS: brought all relevant data together in a single location added data layers to create a more complete picture greatly reduced time necessary to gather and analyze data
Neuse River Foundation Results: better support for volunteer water monitors faster tracking of water contamination sources more comprehensive analysis of complex watershed issues
Situation #4: N.C. Department of Public Instruction wanted to manage school buses more efficiently
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Without GIS: hit-or-miss route mapping in 107 school districts huge inefficiencies inability to contain costs efficiently
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction With GIS: developed pilot program more than 15 years ago GIS use was mandated by all districts statewide in 1992 state funding incentives reward efficiency (fewer buses, better routes)
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Results: in the 1994-95 school year: - more than 500 fewer buses were needed statewide than originally estimated - 15,000,000 fewer miles were driven than originally estimated between 1990 & 1996: - the state saved over 2,000,000 gallons of fuel
Situation #5: The City of Concord wanted to make sure everyone was counted in the census
Concord, N.C. Without GIS: manual data collection and entry easy to miss some addresses
Concord, N.C. With GIS: new addresses entered directly into the GIS system generate instant lists for multiple uses Address Data in GIS Data File Prepared for U.S. Census
Concord, N.C. Results: city will have an estimated 5-10% higher, and more accurate, census count city could qualify for as much as a $1,500,000 increase in state & federal funding
GIS has well demonstrated applications at all levels of government (from City Council to Congress)
Redistricting
Disaster recovery
Floodplain mapping 500 year flood Hurricane Floyd 100 year flood Flooding in Greenville
Regulation implementation & enforcement 100 year flood Hurricane Floyd Hog lagoons in and out of the floodplain
Watershed planning
Land zoning
Planned growth
Police and fire deployment
Residential development
Economic development
Fund allocation Prime Farmland in Johnston County
Demographics
Citizen access to public data Preserved Lands in North Carolina
Any local (municipal) issue that involves spatial information can benefit from the application of GIS The power of GIS is the power of partnership
Standards State Governments Local Governments Information Architecture Regional Agencies Data Maintenance Training Federal Government Data Models Utilities Companies Formal Agreements Partnership Organization High-speed Universities Networks Collaboration Non-Profit Organizations Synchronized Schedules
FILM GIS: Improving Local Decision Making