Wyoming State GIS Coordination Development

1. Wyoming State GIS Coordination Development October 2004

2. Origination • The following geospatial data and technology coordination recommendation for Wyoming was created through response to the user community, WGIAC 2003 Survey, and at the request of the CIO

3. Base • Need for coordination between all Wyoming geospatial users involved in creating, maintaining, and using geographic information • Recommendation plan to develop coordination, clarify responsibilities, build a foundation for the Wyoming spatial data, and ultimately save time and money. • Coordination to occur at the state level to facilitate all involved

4. The Team • Task Force Members • Alan Frank, Albany County • Ben Saunders, WyDOT • Beth Hoobler, SEO • Carol Norris, LSO • Jeff Hamerlinck, UW • Jim Oakleaf, UW • Joseph Huss, WSGS • Rob Geringer, CBM & Associates • Team Requirments • Cooperative • Representatives from all levels • Driven

5. Tasks • Review existing documents • Review existing organizations and activities • Review existing state models • Develop recommended Wyoming State model and plan • Community input and education (Review at: http://www.wsgs.uwyo.edu/GIS_Coord/WSGCDP.aspx)

6. Recommendation • Current Status • Issues and Needs • Recommended Structure • Strengths and Risks • Accountability • Funding • Timeline

7. Current Status of GIS in Wyoming • GIS used at all levels across the state • State, Local, Municipal & Federal Government • Private Industry & Academia • Existing Organizations • WGIAC • Wyoming I-Team • User Groups • Big Horn, Northeast Wyoming, Casper/Natrona County, and Southeast User • Geospatial Clearinghouses • NSDI Nodes, WGIAC & WyGISC

8. Current Status of GIS in Wyoming • Geospatial Clearinghouses • Geospatial data distribution • Local: Cheyenne/Laramie County, Teton County & Sublette County • State: A&I, SEO, DEQ, Game and Fish, SHPO, WOGCC, DOR, WSGS, WyDOT.. • Academia: University of Wyoming CBM Information Clearinghouse, WRDS,WYNDD, Wyoming Natural Resources Data Clearinghouse,Wyoming View, Greater Yellowstone National Spatial Data Infrastructure Initiative,Wyoming Digital Atlas • Mapping Services • Local: Cheyenne-Laramie County Coop, Teton County Map Service • State: WOGCC, WSGS, SHPO, WyDOT, SEO… • Federal: USGS, OMB, BLM… • Academia: WyGISC, WRDS

9. Issues and Needs • The issues which present barriers to effective GIS implementation for all Wyoming users fall in four categories: • (1) lack of coordination; • (2) duplication of effort; • (3) insufficient training opportunities; and • (4) lack of standards

10. Ineffective Coordination • Issues • WGIAC is not able to conduct efficient or effective GIS coordination • WGIAC has an Executive Order exists but does not have any full time personnel, funding, or oversight of its policies and actions to be effective • Needs • A single GIS contact is needed to organize, catalog, and offer Wyoming geospatial data, information, contacts, partnerships and training for all GIS users.

11. Question 11 “Do you agree that WGIAC should be focused on State Government GIS issues only?” Not State Gov’t Focused Survey points • Question 9 “Do you agree that WGIAC is doing what it was set forth to do?” Weak Response

12. Duplication of Effort • Issues • Duplication occurs through application and data development, data delivery, staff, IT infrastructure and skills. • The duplication leads to inefficiency and costs tax payers more money than necessary • Needs • A single funded coordinated distribution source for all Wyoming geospatial information to offer geospatial data, links, contacts, and information regarding ongoing projects

13. Training • Issues • Many organizations have pursued GIS without having clear objectives and expectations thus great variations of GIS literacy and skills also leading to a lack of needed training • Few opportunities exist within Wyoming, forcing organizations to invest in out-of-state • Organizations often can not take advantage of training because of the expenses • Needs • An education and training system for GIS personnel throughout Wyoming that can provide assistance in publicizing, organizing, and conducting training at all levels while leveraging collaborative funds

14. Standards • Issues • Presently only standards exist on software and metadata • Standards for development need to be addressed for all levels of government to increase efficiency of utilization • Needs • Develop standards to facilitate the sharing of data, improve transferability, and improve supportability of GIS application software • Standards for basic technical specifications (e.g. topology, clean linework, attributes, etc.) • Data layer content standards for important new data sets – such as land ownership, land use, and elevation

15. Question 10 “Do you agree that WGIAC should continue to exist?” Strong 76% Response Does the Wyoming GIS Community want Coordination? • Question 25 “Do you agree that Wyoming needs a GIS coordinator/organization?” Strong, 90% Response

16. Proposed Recommendation • Rescind Executive Order 1994-3, which created Wyoming Geographic Information Advisory Council (WGIAC) • Appoint an executive-level Oversight Committee • Establish a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) from Wyoming GIS professionals • Create a Geographic Information Officer (GIO) located under the authority of the Wyoming Chief Information Officer (CIO), • Create a Geospatial Technical Services Program under the direction of the Geographic Information Office (GIO) located at the WyGISC

17. Geospatial Technical Services Program The Structure Oversight Committee Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Geographic Information Officer (GIO)

18. Oversight Committee • Provides Executive Level direction to the GIS Coordination Office and the GIO. • 5 Governor Appointees • Agency Directors • Executives • Led by CIO • 1-TAG member • GIO As Ex-officio Member to conduct meetings

19. Oversight Committee • Ensures executive branch’s priorities are known and met • Makes and approves GIS policy • Constructs and approves biannual review and strategic plan • Approves GIS agreements and contracts • Conducts GIO performance evaluation • Meets minimum twice per year

20. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) • Consists of 12 members (2-Federal, 2-State, 2-County, 2-Munipality, 2-Private, and 2-Education) • Represents user community • Give guidance to Oversight Committee and GIO • One TAG representative is a member of the Oversight Committee. This member is elected from the 12 voting TAG members. • Provides technical guidance to Oversight and GIO • Identifies GIS issues and reports to GIO • Helps develop data standards

21. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) • Provides communication link between coordination and users • Provides outreach • Notes and develops policy • Ensures GIO services are being accomplished • Conducts bi-annual review of technical services • Aids and approves the Wyoming GIS Strategic Plan • Meets a minimum of twice per year

22. GIS Coordination Officer • Ex-officio on oversight committee • Facilitator for TAG • GIS advisor to CIO • ITCC representative for GIS community • Oversees Wyoming Geospatial Technical Services Program. • Attends user group meetings within Wyoming • State GIS representative for Wyoming • I-Team coordinator • Finds, applies and manages coordinated grant funding

23. GIS Coordination Officer • Manages Geospatial Technical Services Program within WyGISC • Inter-agency partnership coordination • Facilitates and coordinates GIS education and outreach • Maintains liaison with other professional organizations • Develops a biannual review and strategic plan for the office of the GIO • Maintains and provides single consolidated data clearinghouse/website • Conducts spatial data archival and backup • Provides training and education support

24. Geospatial Technical Services Program • Similar to the Water Resources Data System at the University of Wyoming • Supports the activities of the Wyoming Water Development Office and Commission • Functions may include: • Centralized GIS web site for Wyoming • Coordination tool development and maintenance • Spatial data clearinghouse • Centralized internet mapping service • Training • Project-specific applications • Technology transfer

25. Strengths and Risks of Recommendations • Remove the existing GIS coordination structure • Strengths • Eliminates inefficiencies of the volunteer effort • Addresses negative local government views towards WGIAC • Gives a fresh start with renewed support • Streamlines and strengthens geospatial data access and management • Risks • Coordination may not be replaced, thus creating greater inefficiency • Like the existing coordination, there may not be executive backing, thus a continuation of a weak organization • Lack of recognition may occur due to new organization or lack of local government support as the organization is state government funded

26. Strengths and Risks of Recommendations • Create Oversight Committee • Strengths • Provides checks and balances of executive oversight • Executive backing • Gives Executive guidance • Risks • Political agendas may cause strife or inefficiency • Lack of GIS knowledge may lead to confusion or ill-advised actions • Perception of only State Government benefiting from this group

27. Strengths and Risks of Recommendations • Create TAG • Strengths • Representative participation for Wyoming • Increase GIS coordination responsiveness • Increase user knowledge by representation • Provides checks and balances • Risks • Perception of only State Government benefiting from this group • Political agendas may cause strife or inefficiency

28. Strengths and Risks of Recommendations • Create new GIO position under the CIO • Strengths • A single officially recognized GIO for Wyoming • Dedicated full-time position who is not a volunteer and can concentrate on coordination • The authoritative location of the office within the Governors Office will give it executive backing to conduct business • Will be a direct aid to streamlining and strengthening efforts for the Wyoming government • Is not funded from a state agency that must conduct cost recovery or fund the position • Mechanism to pursue and coordinate partnerships and alternative funding from other governmental entities or the private sector

29. Strengths and Risks of Recommendations • Create new GIS coordination Structure • Risks • Position/office under funded, thus not enabling full time coordination efforts • Biennial state line item, in which funding would be cut as in 1998 with the Office of GIS • Risk of perception by local governments viewing favoritism as position is state government funded

30. Strengths and Risks of Recommendations • Create the Wyoming Geospatial Technical Services Program at WyGISC to provide technical support and services to the GIO. • Strengths • Existing Data Serving Infrastructure • Largest spatial data clearinghouse in Wyoming • NSDI Data Clearinghouse Node • Most experience in creating multiple NSDI compliant clearing houses in Wyoming • NSDI metadata and metadata search • Internet Map Browsers and Services • CBM Information Clearinghouse • WyMap • Wyoming Digital Orthophoto Quarter-Quad (DOQQ) browser • WyomingView Imagery Service

31. Strengths and Risks of Recommendations • Create the Wyoming Geospatial Technical Services Program at WyGISC to provide technical support and services to the GIO. • Strengths • Existing Data Serving Infrastructure • Professional Staff Experience and Technical Expertise • Largest single organization of GIS experience in Wyoming • Largest GIS education staff in Wyoming • No new state government positions will be needed • Education and Training Services • Two state of the art teaching labs • ESRI Authorized Learning center • Two ESRI certified instructors • Variety of GIS and GPS courses and curriculum already offered • Existing Infrastructure • Terabyte of spatial data • Large internet delivery mechanism • Over 300 data sets online • Large back-up system

32. Strengths and Risks of Recommendations • Create the Wyoming Geospatial Technical Services Program at WyGISC to provide technical support and services to the GIO. • Strengths • Existing Infrastructure • Terabyte of spatial data • Large internet delivery mechanism • Over 300 data sets online • Large back-up system

33. Strengths and Risks of Recommendations • Create the Wyoming Geospatial Technical Services Program at WyGISC to provide technical support and services to the GIO. • Risks • Perception of favoritism towards the University of Wyoming • Program not be financed

34. Accountability • A Strategic Plan will be created and reviewed and updated in each biennium • The GIO will conduct a biennial “Needs Assessment” with review and updates • The Oversight Committee and TAG will review the GIO position efforts biennially • The CIO will review the Strategic Plan as necessary to ascertain the GIO goals • Checks and balances of Oversight Committee and TAG overseeing GIO

35. Funding • Creation of Oversight Committee – no cost • Creation of Technical Advisory Group – no cost • Funding for GIO position and operating budget - $100,000 to $125,000 annually • Funding of Geospatial Technical Services Program - $200,000 to $250,000 annually • Approximately $300-375,000/year • WRDS attains approximately $330,000/year

36. Proposed Time Line • By January 1st, 2005 • Rescind Executive Order 1994 – 3 • Appoint/create the Oversight Committee • By June 30th, 2005 • Appoint acting/interim GIO (CIO) • Create the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) (acting GIO) • By September 30th, 2005 • Develop statewide GIS strategic plan (Oversight Committee, TAG and acting GIO) • Develop budget request for Geographic Information Officer position and Wyoming Geospatial Technical Services Program (CIO and acting GIO with input from TAG) • July 1, 2006 • Hire GIO (CIO) • Initiate Wyoming Geospatial Technical Services Program (GIO)

37. The Recommendation Time Line • Today -- Initial draft review • 6 October, 2004 -- Written comments due, email jhuss@uwyo.edu • 7 October, 2004 – Second open discussion, 10:00 am-12:00 noon, Hathaway Building, Hathaway Conference Room, Cheyenne • 21 October, 2004 -- Final Recommendation Plan posted • 28 October, 2004 -- Final Recommendation Plan voted on by WGIAC, 1:00-3:00 pm, Herschler Building, Room 1299, Cheyenne • November, 2004 – Deliver plan to State Chief Information Officer

38. Wyoming State GIS Coordination http://www.wsgs.uwyo.edu/GIS_Coord/WSGCDP.aspx

39. Comments and Questions