OIT

1. Lands Related Information Systems OIT Office of Information Technology

2. Intro Facts ... The Government of Manitoba: is a center of provincial lands related Information has been involved in lands related computing initiatives for decades (bringing technological advances in GIS, Distributed Databases and Internet) has a responsibility to meet the public's increasing demand for information has a responsibility to continuously review our progress and direction in this area

3. GIS - an area with great potential for service improvement • OIT has undertaken a preliminary review of our current situation • Departments have provided information on existing or planned land management computing systems • This review will be a base for setting future strategic directions of lands related systems

4. Findings…. • Little interdepartmental consultation and co-ordination • Most systems have been developed in isolation of other departments needs • Multiple systems within individual departments extremely diverse GIS environment

5. Numbers ... • 30 land related systems • Departments: • Agriculture (including MB Crop Insurance Corporation) • Consumer and Corporate Affairs (Land Titles Office) • Energy and Mines • Environment • Highways and Transportation • Government Services (Land Management Services) • Natural Resources • Northern Affairs • Rural Development

6. Findings… Diversity of how land info is used and interpreted throughout the government Similarity in many of the systems - some could accommodate several other outdated systems Standards: not established, but: 80% - the same tools (ESRI, Oracle, NT) 20% - miscellaneous tools, databases, and hardware 20 FTEs (excluding LMS and LTO) working on land management applications

7. Findings ... • Duplication of collected, stored and managed land related data: • Basic components for integrated land repository of data are non-existent (Metadata definition, Land Information Data Dictionary, Base Mapping Standards, Information Access Guidelines and Policies) • Many systems process similar data sets • There is no unique standard base map • various “base maps” with different scales and contents, but: • all departments are interested in having a unique corporate base map

8. Need to ... Provide direction and co-ordination to departments to ensure they are partnering on similar projects Recognize departments’ unique needs Ensure sharing ideas with other jurisdictions and agencies (municipal, federal, Crown corporations, and SOAs) Establish a relationship between the business owners (clients) and the facilitators (IT)

9. Other experiences Government of British Columbia has developed a government­wide framework for the management of land information In Ontario, departments formed the Land Cluster to share common standards, systems and data. Their "Land Information Ontario” - integrated GIS system allows users to search for and access a broad range of data about land and property in the province In Nunavut, there is an "one-window" project registration system - NPC Planner. It links project proponents, government agencies, landowners, non-governmental organizations and the general public. It handles land use related applications and provides information about the land use planning process

10. Benefits of integrated approach... • Raising the profile of land systems in government • Timely and accurate decision making • Access to land data from all government departments, agencies, by the general public • All new land data becomes a part of database as it is entered • Electronic transactions • Service delivery is onsite / remote • The benefits for smaller departments • Greater career opportunities for IT professionals • Better possibility for back-up of peers

11. Savings ... • Greater utilization of hardware • Elimination of duplicate software licenses • Greater price/performance ratios on larger machines • Better utilization of personnel an ultimate result • Public money spent more wisely (more value for it) • Better use of our economic resources • A competitive advantage to industry

12. Proposal … to develop #1: A government-wide framework for lands related systems to include: • a detailed inventory of lands related systems • clear understanding of governmental needs and goals and private sector interests • development of core lands information standards • a clear direction to departments in their development of lands related systems • identification of the most critical areas • examination of the cost-sharing possibility • a plan for new lands system initiatives • achievable timelines/milestones for future activities.

13. Proposal … to develop #2: A method to achieve the co-ordination between affected departments • It must be detailed and enabled so all departments are willing to accept it and abide by it • There must be a firm directive for provision of initial data and ongoing updates • Control of transactions after implementation would require firm and fixed guidelines from or enforced by a central authority

14. The next step ... • Decide who should be the lead department, to co-ordinate the development of a government-wide lands management framework • Explore possibilities for creating sub-groups with similar business requirements • Set preliminary milestones for this development

15. Finally... The framework must be developed in co-ordination with all concerned departments It is necessary to recognize, properly address and eliminate existing barriers to allow for true collaboration The time is right to create a corporate, lands related information environment