Readying Municipalities for the Future with Spatial Technology 2010 MMA Technology Conference 11 March 2010 Dr. James H. Page, CEO James W. Sewall Company

Readying Municipalities for the Future The Future = Meeting ever-increasing expectations with fewer resources.

Resources Resources = Funding Funding challenges come from: Short-term economic conditions Jobs Long-term statewide structural challenges Demographics

Expectations Expectations come from: Citizenry Businesses Other levels of government Colleagues All expect services to be: Faster Better Less expensive

Expectations and Spatial Technologies Q: Where do or will these expectations engage with spatial technologies at the municipal level? A: Almost everywhere. Almost all municipal functions do or will use spatial information and technologies.

Examples Citizens expect accurate, instant information about, e.g., property history and values, and to have instant communications about their service concerns. Businesses expect accurate, instant information about, e.g., demographics, parcel data, infrastructure, zoning restrictions, permitting processes. Government expects accurate, instant information about, e.g., infrastructure, regulatory compliance. Colleagues expect help in meeting demands for services with fewer resources. Instant = Web-based Communities must be web-enabled!

Spatial Technology Data Information Analysis Use Hardware and software are tools that make using the above possible. Content expertise is key.

Data Data is rarely the issue, and will be increasingly less so as time goes on. Data is a commodity, and that trend will increase dramatically.

Information How we turn data to information, and how we manage and use that information is what is an essential element as to how we meet expectations with fewer resources. Information is Infrastructure!

OWEGIS Developed jointly with UMaine for investigating offshore wind development data layers Sits on MEevents, complex combinatorial and statistical queries allow hindcasing and forecasting.

OWEGIS OWEGIS/MEevents is Infrastructure. It is a productive asset that itself requires investment and maintenance. Its value is both direct as measured in ROI and indirect (but no less real or important) in helping meet expectations.

Some Lessons Understand the Expectations. Complete an ROI. What are the costs of not creating the infrastructure? Create a Partnership.

Maine Municipalities How do Maine Municipalities meet ever-increasing expectations with fewer resources? Understand Expectations Create an ROI Form Partnerships

Example – Stormwater Sewer Management Understanding Expectations Maintain an aging infrastructure and support system Meet increased maintenance and replacement costs Satisfy regulatory compliance GASB 34 Clean Water Act - ERUs Customer Service

Example: Stormwater Asset Management Link a stormwater asset management system to a GIS Complete system history including distress conditions Complete mapping Allows for inventory management, saving money active scheduling for preventive maintenance, saving money faster and more effective response Regulatory compliance GASB 34 ERUs Service expectations More efficient response Web-enable the public facing component.

Example: Stormwater Asset Management Addresses Expectations Improves the ROI Creates Partnerships Public Works / Engineer Finance /Planning GIS Business Citizens

Partnerships Share costs Improve ROI Provide for an effective division of labor Mitigate risk, especially with respect to single points of failure Maximize resources, build infrastructure Form the most effective response to Expectations

Internal Partners Assessors Engineers Planners Economic Development Specialists Public Works First Responders Policy Makers Spatial Technology (information) is a connecting tissue.

Maine GeoSpatial Partners MEGUG Maine GeoLibrary ConnectME Authority Private Sector Consultants COGS and Planning Commissions

Maine GeoLibrary A public/private partnership formed to create an electronic gateway to public geographic information, to expand and promote the value of geospatial data through widespread distribution and innovative use for the benefit of Maines citizens. A key communications link between the municipal, state and federal governments. Sample Projects Maine OrthoProject Parcel Grant and Geoparcels (Read 2009 Strategic Plan!) (

ConnectME Authority The Authority has the goal of expanding broadband infrastructure in the most rural, underserved and unserved areas in Maine. Broadband is critical to geospatial. Broadband is critical to communities. (

Expectations You can never meet Expectations. Wherever possible, turn Expectations to Agreements. Explicit Bilateral Timed Partnerships only work with Agreements, not expectations.

Conclusions Q: How can geospatial technology help municipalities meet the future? A: Develop the understanding among your stakeholders that: Information is Infrastructure. Geospatial Information is municipal managements (cost- efficient) connecting tissue. Information must be web-enabled. Partnerships are necessary. They are based on Agreements.