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GeoWorld November 2012

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Local Government Figure 3. Two maps illustrate the spatial distribution of SCAG's 79 GIS Services Program participants. the new legislative mandates. But the MPO found that a large portion of jurisdictions lack GIS accessibility. In fact, some cities had limited or no GIS resources. SCAG concluded that equal GIS access by all municipalities would meet the state's new data mandate as well as help monitor growth patterns and enhance transportation utility. As a result, SCAG implemented the GIS Services Program in February 2010 to promote GIS technology and data sharing, updating and standardization as well as establish stronger working relationships with member jurisdictions to facilitate future planning efforts. One unique feature of the program is the customization of work scopes to meet the needs of each participant. The individualized work scopes covered GIS training, data sharing, data conversion, simple application development and other services, according to each agency's needs. This customized scope development resulted in more than 16,000 miles of travel for SCAG staff. In exchange, the participating agencies agreed to provide SCAG their updated GIS data. Figure 3 illustrates the spatial distribution of the 79 GIS Services Program participants. SCAG GIS Services Participant Jurisdictions County Participating Jurisdictions 8 35 9 12 Total Jurisdictions 8 89 35 29 Participation % 100% 39% 26% 41% Total % 10% 44% 11% 15% San Bernardino 12 25 48% 15% Ventura 3 11 27% 4% Total 79 197 40% 100% Imperial Los Angeles Orange Riverside Figure 2. A table shows SCAG GIS Services Program participants by county. 20 G E O W O R L D / N O V E M B E R 2 O 1 2 Training Opportunities Nearly all participant jurisdictions (85 percent) sent staff to attend GIS training sessions (see Figure 5). More than half of the participants received data/map support, which included data conversion, geocoding, data analyses, data sharing and mapmaking. Thirty percent of participants had a simple desktop or Web application developed for their jurisdiction, because they didn't have GIS at their location. Twenty-eight percent received onsite support to bolster current GIS projects. Examples include helping the city of Indio's Public Works Department to develop a street-sweeping schedule (and exhibits) and the city of Compton to develop an updated zoning map. In addition, SCAG delivered free hardware, ArcGIS software and data to 16 local jurisdictions with little or no GIS resources. To ensure success, SCAG is working closely with these agencies to help develop their GIS capabilities through training and follow-up visits. SCAG provided all participants with free customized GIS training, software, equipment, data and other services. These resources are helping local agencies better leverage their assets to become more efficient, save money and/or provide new services to their constituents. SCAG's conservative estimate of savings to local participating jurisdictions is $2 million. These savings are on computer/plotter hardware, GIS software and professional GIS services. Direct cost to SCAG has been $200,000. As illustrated in Figure 6, added positive impacts and benefits to local jurisdictions include the training of more than 300 participants, which is expected to surpass 500 by the end of 2012. These participants range from planning interns, planning directors and city managers to engineers, police and fire professionals. Thirty-one training courses have been offered in 15 different venues across the region. In the case of small jurisdictions, SCAG deployed its Government Special Issue

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