State of Connecticut Geospatial Information Systems Council Annual Report - December 2006

1. State of Connecticut Geospatial Information Systems Council Annual Report - December 2006 Submitted in Accordance with C.G.S. 11- 4 (a)

2. The State of ConnecticutGeospatial Information Systems (GIS) Council was established by Public Act 05-3to “coordinate, within available appropriations, a uniform geo-spatial information system capacity for municipalities, regional planning agencies, the state and others.” The GIS Council was formed in January 2006 with the appointment of members from municipalities, state agencies, and higher education. In February 2006, a website, www.ct.gov/gis, was established and the Council held its first meeting. The Council adopted bylaws March 22, 2006. Nine GIS Council meetings were held in 2006. Four working groups were formed as follows: Data and Inventory Assessment Education and Training Legal and Security Finance Working group activities are detailed in this report. GIS Council Membership Representative of a municipality with population greater than 30,000 but less than 60,000 (Appointed by Governor) Representative of municipality with population greater than 60,000 (Appointed by Senate President Pro Tempore) Representative from a Regional Planning Agency (Appointed by Senate Minority Leader) Representative of a municipality with population less than 30,000 (Appointed by Speaker, House of Representatives) GIS User (Appointed by Minority Leader, House of Representatives) Executive Branch Agencies Department of Information Technology (Chair) Office of Policy Management Department of Environmental Protection Department of Economic and Community Development Department of Transportation Department of Public Safety Department of Public Health Department of Public Works Department of Agriculture Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Department of Social Services Connecticut Siting Council Department of Public Utility Control Military Department Higher Education Connecticut State University System University of Connecticut About the GIS Council

3. In March 2006, the GIS Council received a $50,000 grant through a United States Geological Survey grant program to fund the development of Strategic and Business Plans for the GIS Council. A workshop was held in Connecticut in July 2006 on methodology for developing strategic and business plans for statewide GIS applications and strategies. A portion of the grant will be used to secure consulting services to facilitate the development of these plans. The target consultant hiring date is January 2007 and the completion of the strategic and business plan is in the spring of 2007. To ensure interaction and collaboration from regional and local municipal organizations on strategic and business planning, GIS Council representatives met with representatives of the state’s 15 Regional Planning Organizations (RPO’s), and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, starting in July 2006. These efforts resulted in the formation of a new GIS user group representing the state’s fifteen RPOs and opened up a formal avenue of communication and collaboration on GIS issues. Information and Survey Requirements to Facilitate Development of Strategic and Business Plans Development of a sound strategic and business plan requires a significant body of data and knowledge about existing state and local practices, capabilities and usage of GIS data. Progress towards building this foundation of knowledge are detailed below. Survey Best Practices GIS Council has solicited the GIS user community for examples of Best Practices for display at the Connecticut GIS Day activities November 15, 2006 at the Legislative Office Building. Survey Usage In September 2006, a town-by-town survey began by the GIS Council to determine the extent of GIS usage in Connecticut municipalities. As of December 2006, more than fifty cities and towns have been interviewed. Survey Capabilities GIS Council is sponsoring a series of workshops in January 2007 with state, regional and municipal officials to discuss GIS needs and current capabilities, and future coordination and data needs. Survey Existing Data Sharing Agreements Existing data sharing arrangements between state and local government entities are being reviewed to identify and understand best practices for possible replication Strategic and Business Planning

4. The working group is preparing to develop policies and standards for the maintenance and dissemination of geospatial data within the purview of the GIS Council. The working group has recommended 14 geospatial categories (listed to the right) for Connecticut to provide a structured framework for the assessment of thousands of potential geospatial datasets for statewide GIS applications. The working group is working to identify and leverage funding from multiple sources for “Base Data Layers” used by most GIS systems, including a dataset of all state, local and private roads, and road centerline data showing dimensions, drainage, access, routing, composition and other information. The working group is seeking to coordinate and leverage funding sources for a refresh of the State’s ortho-imagery dataset in 2008. This aerial imagery data is used by federal, state and local agencies. The working group’s full 2006 report is available online at www.ct.gov/gis. Recommended Geospatial Dataset Categories The following selected categories are based on the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Model as recommended by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC). Administrative and Political Boundaries Base Map Imagery Cadastral Information Census and Demographics Critical Infrastructure Elevation and Bathymetry Geodetic Control Geographic Names and Places Oblique Photo Imagery Orthoimagery Photo Imagery Hydrography Land Use and Land Cover Transportation List Standards A report entitled “Report on Connecticut’s Framework Data” was drafted by the working group and contains information on the current status of available data with these categories. This report is available online at www.ct.gov/gis. Working Group Summary:Data Inventory and Assessment

5. The Education and Training working group evaluated and identified multiple audiences that would benefit from a range of GIS training and educational programs. Non-Technical Personnel General geospatial education for non-technical personnel in state, regional and local agencies would introduce geospatial technology and its use in government, business, academics, research and other areas. General Public and Officials Educational outreach to the general public and elected officials includes informational seminars, briefings, workshops and GIS Day events. Technical Users of Geospatial Software Introductory and advanced training for technical users of geospatial software, including specialized application training and periodic and regular training and exercises. In-depth training on public domain datasets is required to ensure appropriate use of and adequate support for data updating and refresh. The working group’s full 2006 report is available online at www.ct.gov/gis. Areas of Focus in 2007 The working group has identified the following potential activities for action in 2007: Survey Existing Training Programs and Needs The survey would cover training programs operated and offered by geospatial councils or similar coordinating organizations in other states. Training needs within Connecticut user groups would also be surveyed. Issue Recommendations on Funding and Provision of Training Recommendations to implement Council-sponsored GIS software and data training would be developed. Included in this effort would be investigation of methods to fund such training. Develop Outreach Materials General educational materials would be developed to educate multiple audiences on geospatial technology in Connecticut and the work of the GIS Council. Continue Statewide GIS Communication and Collaboration To promote the exchange of geospatial information, advertise geospatial technology training and educational seminars, and foster partnerships, the council will continue outreach and collaboration with other associations and organizations throughout Connecticut The Council would also explore sponsorship and/or supporting geospatial educational forums such as workshops, seminars and conferences. Working Group Summary:Education and Training

6. Working Group Summary:Finance and Legal/Security Finance Working Group The working group evaluates and coordinates efforts with all potential funding sources and has the authority to apply for federal grants. The working group has identified funding needs for data, hardware, software, staff and strategies, and has identified and pursued several grant opportunities. The working group’s full 2006 report is available online at www.ct.gov/gis. Legal and Security Working Group The working group advises the GIS Council on legal policy issues as they arise. They created educational tools and guidance to assist the GIS Council including the GIS Council vendor contact policy and Freedom of Information guidelines for GIS data. The working group’s full 2006 report is available online at www.ct.gov/gis. Grants Received in 2006 Strategic and Business Planning - $50,000 In March 2006, the GIS Council received a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Geological Survey to fund the development of Strategic and Business Plans for the GIS Council. Administrative and Technical Support - $40,000 In October 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey provided a $40,000 grant for part-time administrative and technical support for the Data Assessment and Inventory, and Training and Education Working Groups. Geographic Information Integration and Analysis - $50,000 In March 2006, the GIS Council received a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Geological Survey to assist in making the latest geospatial information available to the general public and others. The most recent State digital orthophotography is now accessible to the public on the UConn Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) website. The grant will be used to provide training and a permanent place to host this GIS data.

7. GIS Day – November 15, 2006 GIS Day was celebrated in all 50 states and more than 80 nations November 15, 2006. In Connecticut, Governor M. Jodi Rell issued a proclamation in honor of the day. The State GIS Council also highlighted the use of geospatial technology across Connecticut in a televised meeting and an exhibit at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. The exhibit, coordinated by the GIS Council Education and Training Working Group, consisted of sixteen posters demonstrating how GIS technology is being used throughout Connecticut. Fact sheets and URLs of interactive web-based mapping applications of government agencies, municipal departments, academia and other organizations were also exhibited and available. These materials are essential to raising awareness of the breadth and extent of geospatial technology applications in Connecticut and will be reused in future outreach efforts. They are available at www.ct.gov/gis. GIS Day Meeting Featured on CTN The GIS Council’s GIS Day meeting, held at the Legislative Office Building, was also televised by the Connecticut Education Network (CTN). It is currently available as a streaming video feature on the CTN website.