(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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