UMVRDC GIS Service Bureau Joshua Stevenson Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission 323 West Schlieman Avenue Appleton, MN Phone Fax

History The Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission (UMVRDC) added GIS to its menu of services for local units of government in January This was made possible from the Community Based Planning Grant the UMVRDC received in 1998 from MN Planning. This funding provided a springboard for GIS in the region. It created a GIS professional position at the UMVRDC which lead to another grant from ESRI. This grant provided the UMVRDC with $24,000 in GIS software and training. With the cooperation of local units of government, the UMVRDC has also been able to hire another GIS professional to assist in the completion of projects.

Software & Equipment The GIS Service Bureau houses numerous hardware and software for data collection and creation. These products combined with the knowledge provided by trained GIS professionals allow for a large variety of GIS products and services. Software includes: ArcInfo NT, ArcVicw, ArcView IMS, AutoCAD Map 2000, EPPL 7, EPIC 2000, Pathfinder Office, Microsoft Office Professional, Corel WordPerfect Suite 8 Hardware includes: Trimble ProXR GPS unit, CalComp Digitizing table, HP DesignJet 2500CP Plotter, Digital Camera, Scanner, Proxima Projector

Joshua Stevenson became an ESRI Authorized Instructor at the request of local units of government The UMVRDC GIS Service Bureau offers Introduction to ArcView Courses to local units of government at a minimal cost Classes are offered on an as needed basis We currently have one class each month to meet the needs of our local units of government GIS Training

Census Information The UMVRDC is an official Census Information Distribution Center. The GIS Service Bureau can answer your questions on specific information for the region We have also made numerous maps displaying census information for grant applications and presentations.

Products & Services County and City Parcel Based Mapping

We have currently created a parcel based map for 5 cities with two more cities scheduled for this summer. We have also created a parcel based map for unincorporated areas of 4 townships in Big Stone county and we begin all unincorporated areas of Chippewa county this summer.

Products & Services County and City Parcel Based Mapping Infrastructure Mapping Including Water, Sewer and Power Lines

We have mapped water and sewer for 2 cities and start 2 more cities this summer. We begin mapping the electric service lines for the City of Granite Falls this fall.

Products & Services County and City Parcel Based Mapping Infrastructure Mapping Including Water, Sewer and Power Lines Paper Maps to GIS format (Digitizing)

We have digitized numerous judicial ditch systems within the region. This data includes slopes, culverts, bridges, tile, and depth of ditches.

Products & Services County and City Parcel Based Mapping Infrastructure Mapping Including Water, Sewer and Power Lines Paper Maps to GIS format (Digitizing) Thematic Mapping

Thematic Mapping in the region includes –Zoning maps –Additions within Cities –EMT Service Areas –School Districts –Land Use –Demographics –Scenic Byway Route –Facilities for our Aging Population Hospitals Pharmacies Senior Centers

Products & Services County and City Parcel Based Mapping Infrastructure Mapping Including Water, Sewer and Power Lines Paper Maps to GIS format (Digitizing) Thematic Mapping Global Positioning System (GPS) Mapping

Resource Inventories (Public Water Access)

Signs, Culverts, and Feedlots

We have used Global Positioning Systems to Map: –Culverts –Signs –Ground Control Points –Road Center Lines –Communication Towers We begin a sign inventory of the Minnesota River Valley Scenic Byway this Spring.

Products & Services County and City Parcel Based Mapping Infrastructure Mapping Including Water, Sewer and Power Lines Paper Maps to GIS format (Digitizing) Thematic Mapping Global Positioning System (GPS) Mapping AML and AVENUE Programming for ESRI Software Modifications and Special Projects

We have written numerous AML and Scripts for a number of applications: –Feedlot Mapping –Zoning Variance Notification –Adding Property Identification Numbers –Warping Shapefiles –Warping Images –Straighten Line Segments

Products & Services County and City Parcel Based Mapping Infrastructure Mapping Including Water, Sewer and Power Lines Paper Maps to GIS format (Digitizing) Thematic Mapping Global Positioning System (GPS) Mapping AML and AVENUE Programming for ESRI Software Modifications and Special Projects Large Scale Plotting for Wall Maps and Presentations

Some of our local units of government do not run ArcView or any GIS Software and would rather have our products in paper format. Our plotter holds paper that is 36 wide. We have printed over 1000 feet of maps in less than a year.

Costs The cost of having work completed by the UMVRDC GIS Service Bureau is at a minimum for local units of government within our five county region. Grant money and cost sharing throughout the region makes this possible

Regional GIS Issues Lack of local data for detailed analysis –small tax base for area outside city limits –low population in our region limits the amount of funding available for mapping projects –state and federal land has not been mapped at an accurate scale

Regional GIS Issues Lack of state wide standards for data creation –No standards for mapping Judicial ditches and waterways –No standards for parcel based mapping with property identification numbers –Standards for Metadata are too loose

Regional GIS Issues Remote Sensing Data is out of date –DOQs for our area are almost 10 years old –although satellite imagery is cheaper than air photos it is still very expensive

Regional GIS Issues Technological Infrastructure –We are in the process of posting regional GIS data on the internet however………. –Internet access to most local units of government in the region is limited to dial up access –Limited internet access limits the ability to access GIS data –Most detailed GIS data is large in file size

Conclusion The UMVRDC GIS Service Bureau has become the GIS data library for the region We are creating a significant amount of local data including infrastructure, property ownership, judicial ditches, culverts, and historical information We have strong support from local units of government We are in the process of posting all of our data on the internet for use by other agencies Support from the state on data standards and funding for GIS data creation in greater Minnesota would help our region