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A Publication Featuring The Information Services Technology of Maine State Government
| Volume IV, Issue 9 | September 2001 |
Since 1990, Maine State government agencies have increasingly used GIS technology in support of their business missions. Today all GIS-capable institutions (internal and external to State government) have access to the highest quality, digital base map information through the Maine Office of GIS. What is this information used for?
Several municipalities in Maine have taken proactive steps toward developing high quality GIS datasets. Yet, many mid-sized and most small communities have not yet planned for GIS, although many recognize GIS can perform various community functions – particularly with regard to land use planning and tax assessing.
Similarly, Maine’s 16 county governments could benefit from GIS beyond the Enhanced 911 system. Potential applications range from routing sheriff’s patrols to managing property records. Some counties and towns already have on-line deed information retrieval systems in place. Other regional quasi-governmental entities such as water districts and watershed associations are beginning to utilize GIS for resource protection functions.
Recognizing that opportunities for improved intergovernmental coordination and taxpayer savings are numerous, the Legislature passed, and Governor King signed Resolve 23. It established a GIS Steering Committee composed of representatives of municipalities, counties, regional councils, private sector, real estate, university, public, GIS Executive Council (State agency GIS users), the State Planning Office and Office of GIS. This Committee is charged to "study and design a cost-effective statewide GIS, that can be utilized for a variety of planning purposes by all levels of government." and to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature in January 2002.
A coordinated statewide system will provide better access to geographic information for municipalities and other public agencies by developing standards, procedures and protocols, and if warranted, physical mechanisms whereby appropriate information can be shared throughout Maine. By late September, a contractor will have been selected by the Steering Committee to develop and conduct a:
The successful bidder will also make a final project presentation to a joint meeting of the GIS Executive Council and GIS Steering Committee, and at the discretion of the Steering Committee, a presentation of key findings and recommendations to the Maine Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee in January 2002.
Vendor interest in this project has been astonishing. Over 110 copies of the RFP were requested from companies headquartered in the US, Canada, Netherlands, and India. Several companies have indicated their proposals will include partnerships – between themselves and quasi-academic GIS "think-tank" organizations. (The RFP and other materials may be viewed at http://apollo.ogis.state.me.us/news/news.asp#rfp.) This project is an exciting opportunity to cost-effectively enhance working relationships between the levels of governments in Maine through the use of ever expanding GIS technology. "Dirigo"1 is alive and well in Maine’s GIS world!
Questions? Comments? Contact the author at mary.cloutier@state.me.us.
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