Local Government GIS Demonstration Grant - NCGIA Buffalo

Manager's Overview 3
the activities directed toward the evaluation and selection of the GIS hardware and
software may not need to be completed. One would simply use the same GIS system in
use by the larger agency or group. Only the activities aimed at defining applications (uses)
and identifying the needed data would need to be done by the smaller unit of government.
In such a situation, the larger unit of government assumes the leadership role for the areawide
GIS and should have the technical expertise to assist the smaller unit. In situations
where a larger effort does not exist, a village or town government may want to look at a
GIS installation in a similar village or town elsewhere in the state. Given the similarities in
local governments within the state, the adoption of the GIS plan of another unit is not
unreasonable. That plan should be carefully reviewed by the intended participants in the
GIS to ensure applicability. After modifying and validating the plan, a schedule for GIS
hardware, software and data acquisition can be prepared consistent with available
resources. If a good plan is prepared, there is no reason data acquisition (the most
expensive part of a GIS) cannot be stretched over a long time period. Significant data
already is available from state and federal agencies at reasonable costs. These data can
form the initial GIS database, with locally generated data added later. A list of state and
federal data sources is contained in the Survey of Available Data Guide.
Content Of This Guide
This guide presents an overview of the GIS development process. This process is presented as
asequence of steps conducted in a specific order. Each step is important in itself, but
moreimportantly, information needed to complete subsequent steps is assembled and organized in
eachprevious step. The underlying philosophy of the entire series of documents is
to concentrate on the GIS data. As well as being the most expensive part of any GIS, the
data must be collected, stored, maintained, and archived under an integrated set of activities in
order to ensure continued availability and utility to the initial users as well as future users,
including the general public. Defining and documenting data elements from their initial definition
in the needs assessment through to proper archiving of the GIS database according to state
requirements is the constant theme of these guidelines.
2 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS: DEFINITIONS AND FEATURES
Basic Definition Of A Geographic Information System (GIS)
A geographic information system (GIS) may be defined as "...a computer-based
informationsystem which attempts to capture, store, manipulate, analyze and display spatially
referenced andassociated tabular attribute data, for solving complex research, planning and
management problems"(Fischer and Nijkamp, 1992). GISs have taken advantage of rapid
developments inmicroprocessor technology over the past several decades to address the special
challenges of storingand analyzing spatial data. Geographers have referred to GISs as
simultaneously providing "...thetelescope, the microscope, the computer and the Xerox machine"
for geographic and regionalanalysis (Abler, 1987).