GIS-Pro 2014

For the past few decades, geospatial professionals have developed vast quantities of data. Unfortunately, the potential value of these data is often unrealized or under-realized. The US Federal government’s role has changed from being a primary provider of authoritative geospatial information to coordinating and managing geospatial data and facilitating partnerships. This session will examine a number of impediments to effective data development and data sharing and offer solutions that reflect the employment of effective coordination, carefully directed funding, and the application of current information technology tools and strategies. We will also offer suggestions that will build upon the anticipated successes of these initiatives. In particular, we will examine the various roles of Federal, state, and local governments in regard to data creation and maintenance, data aggregation, creation of standards and guidelines, and data dissemination, and link these roles to strategies that have produced successful initiatives. We will then discuss how the lessons learned from these efforts might be incorporated into a national strategy.