Table of Contents
Need and Demand for a Wisconsin Geographic Information Coordination Council
Wisconsin's geographic information - a shared state resource - has been maintained through whatever funding and staffing can be cobbled together, and often through ad hoc agreements between organizations. Before the creation of an interim WIGICC, there was no systematic, institutionalized, statewide approach to developing, maintaining, and accessing this shared data infrastructure. This largely haphazard approach resulted in organizations basing decisions upon geographic information that are not current or complete, and in redundant and uncoordinated efforts to create or maintain data. A lack of accurate, accessible and standardized geographic information hinders effective service delivery, limits options for developing operational efficiencies, and impedes the use of geographic information in priority setting and in responding to public needs.
Creation of an interim Wisconsin Geographic Information Coordination Council (WIGICC) provides a new opportunity for geographic information governance and sharing. While building on a long history of cooperative geographic information activities in the state achieved through the Wisconsin Land Information Program (WLIP), the WIGICC offers a new model that is appropriate for the times and mitigates some of the deficiencies of previous arrangements. The overarching objective for the creation of WIGICC is to give all stakeholder groups within the geographic information community a voice in the decision making process regarding statewide initiatives. WIGICC will facilitate the coordination of previously disconnected efforts at the state and local levels to provide data sharing, standardization, and collaboration. This statewide coordination will better situate Wisconsin for emergency preparedness and response, economic competitiveness, public health delivery, environmental management, educational opportunities, and efficient delivery of services to the public.
Development of Statewide Geographic Information Strategic Plan
Through a joint effort led by the Wisconsin Land Information Association (WLIA), a statewide strategic plan - Wisconsin Location Matters - A Statewide Geographic Information Strategy - was published in 2007. It identified the creation of a Wisconsin Geographic Information Coordination Council (WIGICC) as the number one goal.
Formation of a WIGICC Working Group
Towards this vision, Dave Mockert, then Wisconsin State Geographic Information Officer (GIO), assembled an ad hoc WIGICC working group to facilitate the creation of a council, in cooperation with the Wisconsin State Cartographer’s Office. Selection of the initial working group was based on involvement in the initial FGDC CAP grant activities, knowledge and experience with previous GIS governance efforts in the state, and expressed interest to the GIO regarding coordination of council development. This working group was expanded over time to include broader state, county, municipal, and private sector representation. The working group was responsible for guiding the process culminating in the Council formation.
Evaluation of Leading State Coordination Models
Based on an evaluation of statewide geographic information coordination councils in eight other states (i.e., geographic information coordination state profiles: AZ, AR, MA, MO, NC, NY, PA, and UT) and on past experience with the former Wisconsin Land Information Board (WLIB), the WIGICC working group developed a set of draft criteria to guide the evaluation of potential models for a coordination council. To serve as a starting point for discussion, the working group also drafted two initial draft coordination models "A" and "B" that were presented as starting points for discussion.
Facilitated Listening Sessions and Statewide Summit
Five facilitated listening sessions were held around the state to solicit ideas and feedback toward developing the scope, composition and structure of WIGICC. Participants in the listening sessions were asked to provide feedback regarding the appropriateness, completeness, and priority of the evaluation criteria, as well as their ideas for a council structure to be used in Wisconsin. Participants identified the 'best elements' of the ideas expressed; these ideas were then synthesized by the Working Group and brought forward as a draft WIGICC proposal during a statewide “Governance Summit” meeting, held on September 6th, 2007 in Stevens Point, WI. More than 127 GIS/LIS professional attended the Listening Sessions and more than 80 attended the Summit. Many others contributed via email correspondences.
Proposal to the Department of Administration
Based on the information and feedback collected during the five listening sessions, Summit meeting, and follow up surveys, the WIGICC Working Group developed a WIGICC Proposal and submitted it to the Wisconsin Department of Administration for review. The Wisconsin Dept. of Administration notified the Working Group that it encourages and supports the proposed formation of an interim Geographic Information Coordination Council (WIGICC). This support is expressed in a March 10, 2008 letter to the Working Group from Curtis Pulford, State Geographic Information Officer (GIO). A link to the letter is below.
Selection of Interim Council Members
With the support of the DOA and other geospatial organizations around the state, the WIGICC working group facilitated the selection of fifteen voting members for an interim Council. Organizations and consortia representing the functional sectors, as described in the WIGICC proposal to the Department of Administration, were asked to develop selection procedures appropriate to their organizations. Individuals nominated through these processes serve as their sectors’ liaison on the Council.