(GICC, 1997), 79 counties are mapping at the cadastre 
(parcel) level, 71 counties are using geographic 
information systems (GIS), and 59 have completed the 
first generation of their databases. The large cities in 
North Carolina are equally involved in GIS. 
Government leaders and technologists in North Carolina 
are continually challenged to coordinate government's 
geospatial data management activities across multiple 
jurisdictional levels and to provide access in the most 
efficient and least costly methods. 
Beginning with an overview of the state's coordination 
initiative, this manuscript describes the structure, 
policies, and key programs in place that provide for the 
management and dissemination of geospatial data 
collected by public entities in North Carolina. 
STATEWIDE COORDINATION 
At the heart of the coordination initiative is the North 
Carolina Geographic Information Coordinating Council 
(GICC). The GICC  fosters cooperation among 
government agencies, universities and the private 
sector. It creates policy and resolves technical issues 
related to North Carolina's geographic information and 
GIS systems. 
The primary mission of the GICC is to improve the quality, 
access, cost-effectiveness and utility of North Carolina's 
geographic information and promote geographic 
information as a strategic resource for the State. 
The GICC is established by executive order of Governor 
James B. Hunt, Jr. The executive order grants the GICC 
the authority to create and implement a Strategic Plan; to 
resolve policy and technical issues; to coordinate and 
direct the State's utilization of geographic information, 
GIS systems, and other related technologies; and to 
advise the Governor, Legislature and Information 
Resource Management Commission regarding geographic 
information. 
The GICC is currently chaired by Jane Smith Patterson, 
Advisor to the Governor for Science and Technology. 
The Council's 18 members include government officials 
and executive appointments that represent state, local, 
federal, and regional governments, the academic arena, 
and the private sector. 
A "Strategic Plan for Geographic Information Coordination 
Plan in North Carolina" (GICC, 1994) adopted by the 
GICC in 1994 contains nine strategies intended to 
enhance coordination of geographic information, GIS and 
related technologies in North Carolina. Implementation of 
the Strategic Plan is a key component of the coordination 
program. The strategies are: 
* Advance the National Spatial Data Infrastructure; 
* Enhance the statewide organizational structure; 
* Develop and implement standards and procedures for 
creation and maintenance of the Corporate 
Geographic Database; 
» Establish policies and procedures for access to and 
distribution of the Corporate Geographic Database; 
» Establish a Geographic Data Clearinghouse; 
* Provide training, technical support, and production 
services; 
* Provide ongoing promotion education, and evaluation; 
* Develop a GIS planning process for state agencies; 
* Develop a funding mechanism. 
Three visible and measurable outcomes of a successful 
coordination effort defined in the Strategic Plan include 
the creation and development of the Corporate 
Geographic Database, the development of a Geographic 
Data Clearinghouse; and the development of a 
Geographic Information Partnership Program. 
User based subcommittees of the GICC exist for federal, 
state, and local government, academia and the private 
sector. The user committees are intended to provide the 
appropriate forums for GIS practitioners to convene, 
share ideas, construct standards, and react to policies 
and standards introduced by the GICC and other entities. 
The GICC is a full partner with the Federal Geographic 
Data Committee (FGDC), an organization with similar 
objectives operating on behalf of the United States 
federal government. The FGDC is established by 
executive order of the President William J. Clinton. Under 
the partnership, the GICC and the FGDC agree to work 
towards the realization of a National Spatial Data 
Infrastructure. 
The GICC and the FGDC work collaboratively on projects 
that demonstrate and test the concepts of the National 
Spatial Data Infrastructure. These projects include 
efforts intended to improve the methods of access to 
geospatial data held in government databases through 
the development of metadata, Internet clearinghouse 
sites, data content standards, and the technical 
exploration of | interoperability issues among 
stakeholders. 
The GICC is supported by the staff of the Center for 
Geographic Information & Analysis (CGIA), which was 
established in 1977 as the state GIS office. CGIA is 
funded through receipts generated by it's service bureau. 
It is administratively located in the Office of State 
Planning, in the Governor's Office. 
GEOSPATIAL DATA MANAGEMENT 
Corporate Geographic Database 
The North Carolina Corporate Geographic Database is an 
organized collection of strategic geographic datasets 
supported by government agencies, nonprofit 
organizations, universities, and the private sector as a 
statewide information resource intended for widespread 
accessibility. It is administered by the Center for 
Geographic Information & Analysis (CGIA). 
Themes of datasets that are stored and maintained in the 
database include framework (base) data, such as digital 
orthophotography, vertical and horizontal control 
locations, streets and roads, jurisdictional boundaries, 
surface waters, terrain data, and public and private land 
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