1. Is GIS Technology (Geographic Information System) An Expensive Luxury or A Way To Reduce The Cost Of Doing Business?

2. What is GIS ? Remember the old advice? “ The three most important factors to consider in business?” “LOCATION-LOCATION-LOCATION” GIS is the tool for knowing LOCATION.

3. What is Location ? What is it ? - facilities (hydrants) - property (ownership) - assets (house) Where is it? - property in the county - property in city - house on property How near/far is it? - house near school - hydrant is close - house/road setback

4. GIS Is A Tool That Can Help Law Enforcement –Is a drug sale within 1000’ of a school? Planning –Can I build here? (zoning, floodplains, soils, others) Emergency Management –Where is the 911 call coming from? Policy –What is the impact of an annexation? –Where is vacant land that can be purchased for a facility? Public Works –Where are the roads that must be blade patched? –Water is in the road; where is the nearest pipe and valve? Assessment & Taxation –What is the value of taxes in this district? Elections What precinct is the voter applicant in?

5. GIS Is A Tool That... Costs Money –Equipment costs money. –Data must be collected and maintained. –Staff is expensive. Does Not Typically Generate Money –Selling data does not make money. –Selling information services is typically not a public sector goal. Can Save Money (Hopefully)

6. GIS Is A Luxury When Staff… (Does not reduce cost) Do not have the tool. Do not know how to use tool. Have the tool but poor data. Need lots of specialized training. Need specialized procedures to get answers. Have to ask specially trained folks to use the tool for them.

7. Three Examples of Cost Reductions at Polk County Planning Surveying Taxlot Mapping (Many other examples exist)

8. Example 1: Planning In the past…. –We had 3 planners and 1 support position. –It took an uncertain (but long) time to process a plan review. Now…. –We have 2 planners and 1 support position. –80% - 100% of Admin Land Use reviews are processed in under 25 days. –More complex planning rules.

9. Planning Example

10. What Changed? 1. Many preliminary reviews are done at the counter by support staff. 2. Planning staff have active tracking of all land-use review actions. 3. Complex analysis is now done by planning and support staff.

11. Example 2: Surveying In the past…. –We “microfiched” all surveys. –Used $20k machines to look at surveys. –Had an “Out-of-date” printed index. –Surveyors would visit and “pull surveys”. Now…. –Machines are gone. –Surveyors do not visit. –One less survey staff (did not fill a position).

12. Surveying Example

13. What Changed? 1. All surveys are “digital”. 2. Surveys (plats) are reviewed digitally and status is posted on the WEB. 3. The survey index is maintained as part of doing business. 4. All surveys are accessible on the WEB for free.

14. Example 3: Taxlot Maps In the past…. –Various versions updated “10” times. –Several annual mapping projects done to support appraisal. –Maps continued to get “less accurate”. Now…. –Maps updated twice. –Updates are part of business process. –Maps continue to get “more accurate”.

15. Taxlot Example

16. What Changed? 1. Maps are digital. 2. Assessor and surveyor share data. 3. Everyone has access to maps integrated with A&T data. 4. Maps get better when updated as part of the business process. 5. Maps are posted on internet.

17. Example Summary Old WayCost Reducer Luxury Duplicate EntrySingle Entry Duplicate Entry Special ProcessesBusiness Flow Special Processes Specialized Staff Less Staff Specialized Staff Paper Digital Digital No Access Great Access Poor Access Less Service Better Service Better Service Less QualityBetter Quality Better Quality

18. GIS IS JUST A TOOL Your organization makes it: An expensive luxury or A way to reduce the cost of doing business.

19. How to make GIS a useful tool.. Solve known problems (do not invent them). Remember your goals (cheaper, faster, provide better service). Information is an important asset that needs to be maintained. Data should be entered once as part of a business process. Recognize that GIS is multi-departmental.