Many public organizations are using GIS technology to become more efficient and better manage their various facilities. One great case study is how the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) developed a smartphone app to report repair issues in real-time. LAUSD is the second largest public school district in the US and manages facilities thatRead… Read more »
In March 2012, the Obama Administration launched the “Big Data Research and Development Initiative” to capitalize on the fast-growing volume of data in today’s world. By investing over $200 million in research and development, federal agencies hoped to extract more information and better analysis to make smarter decisions that drive growth and efficiency. As aRead… Read more »
For government organizations facing budget cuts, limited IT resources, and rising citizen expectations, efficiency is the name of the game. Many are turning to the cloud as a way to deliver technology capabilities more quickly and cost-effectively. In fact, cloud computing is expected to account for roughly 20% of the overall global IT market, excludingRead… Read more »
In 1998, congress amended the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. The goals of these regulations, known as Section 508, are to eliminate barriers in information technology, open new opportunities for people with disabilities, increase collaboration, and encourage development ofRead… Read more »
For several years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has used Esri’s ArcGIS technology to process, analyze, and fuse different types of geospatial imagery to integrate information and help conservation efforts. One great example of their effort is the Land Cover Atlas, which is produced every five years using data extracted from the CoastalRead… Read more »
On January 24, the Office of the President issued the memo: Strategic Plan for Improving Management of Section 508. As government becomes more digital, transparent and reliant on technology to share information with the public, it is important that electronic information be made available to all people, regardless of disability. Currently, how this is managedRead… Read more »
Social media has quickened the speed of communication to a breakneck pace, and altered citizens’ expectations in terms of speed of response. For example, if I wrote an organization a letter, I would factor in a few days for it to get there, and several more days to be answered. However, if I posted aRead… Read more »
As much as we may try, we can’t all be GIS professionals or expert mappers. But that doesn’t mean GIS technology should be ignored by the non-GIS professionals. Maps can and should play an integral role in helping us do our job better. One of the most significant benefits of GIS technology is improved communicationRead… Read more »
If the average citizen is mobile and social, shouldn’t government services be as well to better serve them? This is the question government agencies have been working to address over the last few years. With initiatives like the Digital Government Strategy, which aims to provide citizens with high-quality digital information anywhere, anytime, and on anyRead… Read more »
Organizations are creating, storing, and managing more data than ever before. At the same time, over the last few years there has been a huge push for more transparency, collaboration and accountability in the public sector. In the mobile era citizens expect government to meet them in the middle by providing relevant public information anytime,Read… Read more »