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A Publication Featuring The Information Services Technology of Maine State Government

Volume IV, Issue 10 October 2001


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GIS Needs Assessment Interviews Coming Soon

By Mary N. Cloutier

Recognizing that opportunities for improved intergovernmental coordination and taxpayer savings are numerous, the Legislature passed, and Governor King signed

Resolve 23 last May. It established a Geographic Information System (GIS) Steering Committee1, and Ed Suslovic, of the Maine Association of Realtors, and John Holden, of the Eastern Maine Development Corporation became co-chairs in September. The Steering Committee will report its key findings and recommendations to the Maine Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee next January.

A coordinated statewide system will provide better access to geographic information for current and potential users of geographic information by developing standards, procedures and protocols, and if warranted, physical mechanisms whereby appropriate information can be shared throughout Maine. Applied Geographics Inc. (AGI, www.appgeo.com), of Boston, Massachusetts was recently chosen to develop and produce a:

  1. needs assessment,
  2. requirements analysis,
  3. benefits analysis,
  4. coordination plan including recommended privacy standards and a discussion of privacy issues
  5. high level System design consistent with the requirements analysis,

and to make recommendations regarding:

  1. a development tracking application, and
  2. long-term funding options.

Although the majority of the organizations being interviewed as a part of the needs assessment are outside state government, State agencies will also be surveyed either through personal interviews or focus groups. The survey instrument will be completed soon, and we anticipate agency interviews will occur September 27 through October 13. A representative from either AGI or the Maine Office of GIS will contact your agency GIS Technical Committee representative to schedule an interview.

Other questions or comments? Contact Steering Committee staff Mary Cloutier by e-mailing mary.cloutier@state.me.us, or Dan Walters at dan.walters@state.me.us. Also feel free to visit the MEGIS Website ( http://apollo.ogis.state.me.us/ ), which will be continuously updated with information regarding the Resolve 23 project.

1. composed of representatives of municipalities, counties, regional councils, the private sector, the real estate industry, the University of Maine, the public, the GIS Executive Council (State agency GIS users), the State Planning Office, and the Maine Office of GIS (MEGIS).

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