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| Subject: | [gislist] Re: GIS staffing for local governments |
| Date: |
03/10/2005 09:20:02 AM |
| From: |
Bill Thoen |
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Excuse the reply cross-post to GISCO, but I thought this topic might be
appropriate. (See original message below.)
So how small is too small for a local government to support GIS services?
How do you provide such services when the demand is greater than zero,
but the budget isn't infinite? Good questions.
I think if you try to do too much with too little you end up wasting the
few resources you do have. It takes a certain level of funding to support
even one well-trained GIS professional and the computer hardware and
software s/he needs to do the job. Trying to do this on the cheap is a
waste. Poor GIS is worse than no GIS IMHO. You end up having to do too
much all over again. If you're that small, then outsource. Small agencies
don't need GIS 24/7, but by outsourcing to a competent, experienced
consultant when you do need it, you get quality results, and you start to
build a base where the hardest part of building an internal GIS capability
(getting it started) is guided by your hired expert.
Of course, there's plenty of private consultants ready and willing take
the job, but is it possible that govt. agencies could work together to
provide services, resources and expertise? Could a county GIS take in
paid work from smaller towns in its area? Even though no small town could
afford a $50,000 high-speed E-size plotter, together they could easily
fund it. The same applies to the salary of a competent staff.
Larger govt. agencies could help smaller ones (and themselves as well) by
providing some guidance and regional data resources too. This would lower
the cost of entry for GIS programs at all levels. Make it easy to access
data across a state, and provide some standards for core framework layers,
and you just might get people to build data sets in a coordinated manner.
For example, if the state established a guideline for a minimal standard
for street centerline data, then all the counties developing that data in
their jurisdictions could start with the core attributes, add the ones
they need, and provide a big boost for small towns in their area who need
to do things like develop a plan for locating their new fire station.
Likewise, should an emergency develop centered on where three counties
come together, having a common core set of attributes for street
centerlines in all three counties REALLY helps emergency responders to
pull together up-to-date data in a hurry. A little coordination saves not
only money bu maybe it can save lives too.
- Bill Thoen
On Wed, 9 Mar 2005, Patricia Long wrote:
> I'm interested to hear from folks who work for local governments. I've
> been asked to find out where, in terms of the local government
> structure, GIS programs are based and what works well. As my
> municipality moves forward with GIS, we are finally starting to address
> staffing needs and we're trying to figure out the best way to proceed.
>
> I'd prefer to hear from other small cities, rather than county
> governments if possible, but all advice is welcome. Specifically, I'd
> like to know if your local government utilizes any GIS civil service
> titles, such as GIS Specialist and/or GIS Manager? If so, how many
> positions are there and what department do they work under? Information
> Technology? Planning? Engineering? Emergency Management? Public Works?
> If your government does not have any strictly-GIS positions, who
> responds to GIS work requests?
>
> Planning staff? Engineering staff? IT staff? Outside consultants?
>
> I expect responses will vary widely, based on the organizational
> structure of local government, but I'm hoping to get at least some
> insight from those who have already/or are currently tackling similar
> issues.
>
> It would also be helpful if you can tell me
>
> 1) approximate size of the population your jurisdiction serves
> 2) area of the jurisdiction (in square miles)
> 3) any additional advice you think would be helpful
>
> Thanks in advance, for all input. If helpful, I will summarize.
>
> Trish Maggio-Long
> tlong@trentonnj.org
> Dept. of Housing & Economic Development
> City of Trenton
> 319 E. State St.
> Trenton, NJ 08608
> (609)989-3291
>
>
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