EGT - GIS Assesment Survey

GIS Program Assessment Survey Results

Assessment Goals:

Help State Agencies and Departments assess their use of Geographic Information Technology (GIT)
Help State Agencies and Departments identify and define their GIT needs.
Help the Enterprise GIS Task Force (EGT) create a collective picture of GIT utilization in Vermont State government.

Terms:

IT = Information Technology
GIT = Geographic Information Technology, includes GIS and GPS
Organization = State Agency, Department, or Division
Inter-organizational = Interagency, Interdepartmental, etc.

Note: Questions I_D and I_E have been excluded from this report (index of questions)

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Name, Title, Organization
VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): Steve Sharp, Senior Project Manager VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: Harry Roush, Mapping Specialist VT Dept. of Health: Gibson,Kachajian,Roberts,Young, VDH EGT representatives VT Enhanced 911 Board: Jeremy McMullen, E911 Mapping & GIS Specialist VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: John Hanning, GIS Database Administrator VT Military Department: Ryan Ochs, GIS Specialist VT Agency of Transportation: Shawn Nailor, IT Manager I VT Agency of Human Services: Cathleen Gent, Senior Policy Analyst VT Dept. of Labor: Andrew Condon, Chief: Economic and Labor Mark VT Agency of Natural Resources: Peter Telep, GIS Section Supervisor VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: Dana Dean, CIO VT Natural Resources Board: Lou Borie, Manager

Name, Title, Organization

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): Steve Sharp, Senior Project Manager

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: Harry Roush, Mapping Specialist

VT Dept. of Health: Gibson,Kachajian,Roberts,Young, VDH EGT representatives

VT Enhanced 911 Board: Jeremy McMullen, E911 Mapping & GIS Specialist

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: John Hanning, GIS Database Administrator

VT Military Department: Ryan Ochs, GIS Specialist

VT Agency of Transportation: Shawn Nailor, IT Manager I

VT Agency of Human Services: Cathleen Gent, Senior Policy Analyst

VT Dept. of Labor: Andrew Condon, Chief: Economic and Labor Mark

VT Agency of Natural Resources: Peter Telep, GIS Section Supervisor

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: Dana Dean, CIO

VT Natural Resources Board: Lou Borie, Manager

Does your organization utilize Geographic Information Technology (GIT)?

Response	# of Responses
Never	1
Sometimes	2
Often	3
Always	6

Please briefly explain what GIT is used for within your organization.
VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): VCGI is a non-profit public corporation charged with the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy for the Vermont Geographic Information System (VGIS). Further, VCGI is charged with ensuring that all data gathered by state agencies that is relevant to the VGIS shall be in a form that is compatible with, useful to, and shared with that geographic information system. VCGI uses GIT in a number of ways including: - Geospatial data development and maintenance. - Data distribution (VGIS Data Warehouse) - Web map services. - Geocoding services. - Geospatial analysis supporting a wide range of applications. - A range of technical GIS support services to other State agencies, as well as non-profits. VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: Production of products for clients QC of DOQs post production VT Dept. of Health: public health GIS, including decision support on issues like childhood lead poisoning, West Nile virus, emergency planning & response, cancer registry geocoding, environmental health mapping, etc. VT Enhanced 911 Board: We use Arcmap & Arc SDE 9.2 with 2 Arc Editor Licenses, 2 Spacial Analyst licenses 2 Arc View Liceses and 13 ArcSDE licenses.We have MS SQL 2005. We also have a mapping vehicle outfited with a DGPS MAX GPS unit for all road center line mapping, Driveway mapping and Site mapping. We have other multiple program Extensions built on top of the Arcmap platform. VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: Water quality monitoring, non-point source pollution prevention and management, agrichemical regulatory compliance, animal health, Act 250 permit review, farmland preservation, mosquito vector control, disaster preparedness VT Military Department: Permit mapping. GIS analysis. Military training maps. VT Agency of Transportation: We have about 200 users using ArcGIS Desktop for basic mapping functions. We utilize ArcSDE for serving GIS data in addition to traditional file services. We Utilize ArcIMS for the development of WEB Mapping applications. We are implementing ArcGIS server for additional thin client applications. GIT is used to maintain, analyze, and produce the maps and tables for Agency Staff, FHWA, the Legislature, municipalities, and the public. GIT is integral to the work that Mapping Unit and is the core technology. VT Agency of Human Services: Not within our particular divisions. VT Dept. of Labor: Mapping of employment demographics by industry in Vermont VT Agency of Natural Resources: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: ArcGis family of software, Mappoint, GoeCortex IMF technology VT Natural Resources Board: ANR Environmental Interest internet map application; telecommunications map; NRCS primary agricultural soils mapping.

Please briefly explain what GIT is used for within your organization.

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): VCGI is a non-profit public corporation charged with the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy for the Vermont Geographic Information System (VGIS). Further, VCGI is charged with ensuring that all data gathered by state agencies that is relevant to the VGIS shall be in a form that is compatible with, useful to, and shared with that geographic information system.
VCGI uses GIT in a number of ways including:
- Geospatial data development and maintenance.
- Data distribution (VGIS Data Warehouse)
- Web map services.
- Geocoding services.
- Geospatial analysis supporting a wide range of applications.
- A range of technical GIS support services to other State agencies, as well as non-profits.

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: Production of products for clients QC of DOQs post production

VT Dept. of Health: public health GIS, including decision support on issues like childhood lead poisoning, West Nile virus, emergency planning & response, cancer registry geocoding, environmental health mapping, etc.

VT Enhanced 911 Board: We use Arcmap & Arc SDE 9.2 with 2 Arc Editor Licenses, 2 Spacial Analyst licenses 2 Arc View Liceses and 13 ArcSDE licenses.We have MS SQL 2005. We also have a mapping vehicle outfited with a DGPS MAX GPS unit for all road center line mapping, Driveway mapping and Site mapping. We have other multiple program Extensions built on top of the Arcmap platform.

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: Water quality monitoring, non-point source pollution prevention and management, agrichemical regulatory compliance, animal health, Act 250 permit review, farmland preservation, mosquito vector control, disaster preparedness

VT Military Department: Permit mapping. GIS analysis. Military training maps.

VT Agency of Transportation: We have about 200 users using ArcGIS Desktop for basic mapping functions. We utilize ArcSDE for serving GIS data in addition to traditional file services. We Utilize ArcIMS for the development of WEB Mapping applications. We are implementing ArcGIS server for additional thin client applications.

GIT is used to maintain, analyze, and produce the maps and tables for Agency Staff, FHWA, the Legislature, municipalities, and the public. GIT is integral to the work that Mapping Unit and is the core technology.

VT Agency of Human Services: Not within our particular divisions.

VT Dept. of Labor: Mapping of employment demographics by industry in Vermont

VT Agency of Natural Resources: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: ArcGis family of software, Mappoint, GoeCortex IMF technology

VT Natural Resources Board: ANR Environmental Interest internet map application; telecommunications map; NRCS primary agricultural soils mapping.

How many internal users do you have?

Response	# of Responses
1-5	6
6-10	2
11-20	2
21+	2

How many external users do you have?

Response	# of Responses
1-5	2
11-20	1
21+	6

Is your organization the sole coordinator, developer and manager of geospatial information within your agency?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	7
No	5

Is there a designated leader in the organization to manage geospatial information management and sharing?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	8
No	4

Does the designated leader have the continued support of management to find and pursue geospatial information sharing and coordination activities that may be available within the agency.

Response	# of Responses
Never	2
Sometimes	1
Often	3
Always	5

Does the designated leader have the continued support of management to find and pursue geospatial information sharing and coordination activities that may be available outside of the agency.

Response	# of Responses
Never	1
Sometimes	2
Often	2
Always	6

Does the State of Vermont have a statewide GIS coordinator?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	3
No	9

II_E Follow-up - YES
VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): Vermont Center for Geographic Information (VCGI) http://www.vcgi.org/about_vcgi/?page=./documents/enabling_legislation.cfm VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None VT Dept. of Health: None VT Enhanced 911 Board: None VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: None VT Military Department: None VT Agency of Transportation: None VT Agency of Human Services: Vermont Center for Geographic Information VT Dept. of Labor: None VT Agency of Natural Resources: None VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: None VT Natural Resources Board: VCGI

II_E Follow-up - YES

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): Vermont Center for Geographic Information (VCGI)
http://www.vcgi.org/about_vcgi/?page=./documents/enabling_legislation.cfm

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None

VT Dept. of Health: None

VT Enhanced 911 Board: None

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: None

VT Military Department: None

VT Agency of Transportation: None

VT Agency of Human Services: Vermont Center for Geographic Information

VT Dept. of Labor: None

VT Agency of Natural Resources: None

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: None

VT Natural Resources Board: VCGI

II_E Follow-up - NO
VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): None VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None VT Dept. of Health: We think there should be a statewide GIS coordinator and that the position should be located within VCGI instead of some other location like DII. VT Enhanced 911 Board: None VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: Don't know, but probably because nobody trusts DII to manage GIS better than they can internally. Informally, VCGI fulfills much of this role quite well. VT Military Department: Lack of coordination between agencies? VT Agency of Transportation: Trick question Steve. VCGI is charged with this to a certain degree. But by not being embedded in State Government they can lack the teeth to mandate items. Cooperation ends up being voluntary. I believe a model similar to DII with a GIO who has input/approval on GIS related funding and expenditures could be more effective. VCGI by default has this role, but for State Government, this position is lacking. This answer could easily be yes, but with the conditions on not having a true Geographic Information Officer (GIO). VT Agency of Human Services: None VT Dept. of Labor: None VT Agency of Natural Resources: Outside of VCGI's current function and role? VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: The State has defined operational units that are responsible for their development budgets and business programs. VT Natural Resources Board: None

II_E Follow-up - NO

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): None

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None

VT Dept. of Health: We think there should be a statewide GIS coordinator and that the position should be located within VCGI instead of some other location like DII.

VT Enhanced 911 Board: None

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: Don't know, but probably because nobody trusts DII to manage GIS better than they can internally.

Informally, VCGI fulfills much of this role quite well.

VT Military Department: Lack of coordination between agencies?

VT Agency of Transportation: Trick question Steve. VCGI is charged with this to a certain degree. But by not being embedded in State Government they can lack the teeth to mandate items. Cooperation ends up being voluntary. I believe a model similar to DII with a GIO who has input/approval on GIS related funding and expenditures could be more effective.

VCGI by default has this role, but for State Government, this position is lacking. This answer could easily be yes, but with the conditions on not having a true Geographic Information Officer (GIO).

VT Agency of Human Services: None

VT Dept. of Labor: None

VT Agency of Natural Resources: Outside of VCGI's current function and role?

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: The State has defined operational units that are responsible for their development budgets and business programs.

VT Natural Resources Board: None

Does your organization participate in any Federal geospatial initiatives?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	8
No	4

II_F - If yes, what are they?
VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) - soils FEMA - Flood Insurance Rate Maps U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: generation of low level DOQ of Capital complex VT Dept. of Health: Two clear examples are data development performed by the Cancer Registry, health surveillance, epidemiology, and emergency preparedness. VT Enhanced 911 Board: None VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: US EPA 319 GIS grant, which funds the position of the VAAFM GIS DBA. VT Military Department: All of our data has to meet Federal Geospatial Data standards. VT Agency of Transportation: FHWA supports our development of GIS data and applications. NOAA provides support indirectly through the GPS network. GIS data is shared with FHWA and the new Highway Performance Monitoring System is using a geospatial submittal, which Vermont is a pilot State. VT Agency of Human Services: None VT Dept. of Labor: Our Quarterly Census of Employment and Wagews database (exhaustive database of UI covered businesses in the State ) is geocoded by USDOL/BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics. VT Agency of Natural Resources: not sure unless I look into it. Programs are free to pursue grants and funding opportunities that sometimes have geospatial components. VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: None VT Natural Resources Board: None

II_F - If yes, what are they?

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)
Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) - soils
FEMA - Flood Insurance Rate Maps
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: generation of low level DOQ of Capital complex

VT Dept. of Health: Two clear examples are data development performed by the Cancer Registry, health surveillance, epidemiology, and emergency preparedness.

VT Enhanced 911 Board: None

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: US EPA 319 GIS grant, which funds the position of the VAAFM GIS DBA.

VT Military Department: All of our data has to meet Federal Geospatial Data standards.

VT Agency of Transportation: FHWA supports our development of GIS data and applications.
NOAA provides support indirectly through the GPS network.
GIS data is shared with FHWA and the new Highway Performance Monitoring System is using a geospatial submittal, which Vermont is a pilot State.

VT Agency of Human Services: None

VT Dept. of Labor: Our Quarterly Census of Employment and Wagews database (exhaustive database of UI covered businesses in the State ) is geocoded by USDOL/BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics.

VT Agency of Natural Resources: not sure unless I look into it.
Programs are free to pursue grants and funding opportunities that sometimes have geospatial components.

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: None

VT Natural Resources Board: None

II_F - Do they provide funding?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	8
No	4

II_F - Are there any restrictions on IT resource sharing?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	7
No	5

Is your geospatial information stored and maintained in accordance with an organizational or IT plan?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	8
No	4

Do geospatial information users in your organization support the plan and use the data management system as designed?

Response	# of Responses
Never	1
Sometimes	2
Often	3
Always	4

Do the geospatial data producers in your organization recognize data development processes, maintenance procedures and geospatial data documentation standards?

Response	# of Responses
Never	1
Rarely	2
Sometimes	5
Often	4

Are all of your geospatial data development processes, maintenance procedures, and geospatial data assets fully documented?

Response	# of Responses
Never	1
Rarely	1
Sometimes	7
Often	3

Does your organization research and utilize geospatial technology standards and best practices.

Response	# of Responses
Never	1
Rarely	2
Sometimes	3
Often	6

Does your organization have a designated person(s) responsible for the research and utilization of technology standards and best practices?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	4
No	8

Is management aware of what geospatial data is being held and managed by your organization, and the benefits of having it?

Response	# of Responses
Never	1
Sometimes	6
Often	5

Are your organization’s data holdings well documented, and easily accessible within your own organization?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	9
No	3

VI_B - Please explain
VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): VCGI maintains the VGIS Data Warehouse, a comprehensive geospatial data warehousing system. Internal VCGI users have access to all VGIS data stored in the warehouse. All data stored in the warehouse include complete FGDC compliant metadata (documentation). VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None VT Dept. of Health: The VDH data warehouse is housed on the VDH network and easily accessible by all VDH GIS users. VT Enhanced 911 Board: None VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: Geospatial data is available in several forms, ranging from a single program manager's own data to GIS data made available to divisions within the Agency on a shared access server. Adequate documentation is sketchy and formal metadata not used because internal spatial data is rarely shared outside of the Agency's control VT Military Department: None VT Agency of Transportation: The bulk of data is available for users, but there are some data layers that are less accessible and currency is sometimes an issue. We are in the process of developing layer files and related user centric metadata and making it available in SharePoint to help with this. VT Agency of Human Services: Within new AHS Data Warehouse. VT Dept. of Labor: QCEW database is well documented and availabel to qualifyed / autorized users. VT Agency of Natural Resources: staff GIS website and browseable on our file server VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: None VT Natural Resources Board: None

VI_B - Please explain

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): VCGI maintains the VGIS Data Warehouse, a comprehensive geospatial data warehousing system. Internal VCGI users have access to all VGIS data stored in the warehouse. All data stored in the warehouse include complete FGDC compliant metadata (documentation).

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None

VT Dept. of Health: The VDH data warehouse is housed on the VDH network and easily accessible by all VDH GIS users.

VT Enhanced 911 Board: None

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: Geospatial data is available in several forms, ranging from a single program manager's own data to GIS data made available to divisions within the Agency on a shared access server. Adequate documentation is sketchy and formal metadata not used because internal spatial data is rarely shared outside of the Agency's control

VT Military Department: None

VT Agency of Transportation: The bulk of data is available for users, but there are some data layers that are less accessible and currency is sometimes an issue. We are in the process of developing layer files and related user centric metadata and making it available in SharePoint to help with this.

VT Agency of Human Services: Within new AHS Data Warehouse.

VT Dept. of Labor: QCEW database is well documented and availabel to qualifyed / autorized users.

VT Agency of Natural Resources: staff GIS website and browseable on our file server

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: None

VT Natural Resources Board: None

Has your organization created inter-organizational data sharing and exchange agreements?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	6
No	6

Are your organization’s geospatial data holdings searchable and accessible from outside of your own organization?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	5
No	7

IV_D - Please explain
VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): VCGI maintains the VGIS Data Warehouse, a comprehensive geospatial data warehousing system. The Warehouse include a web portal which allows users to search for and download a wide rage of geospatial datasets cover the state of Vermont. VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None VT Dept. of Health: None VT Enhanced 911 Board: We export our data to VCGI on a bi-monthly basis. VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: VAAFM geospatial data are often created with the cooperation of the agricultural community which includes an express or implied guarantee of confidentiality. This default requirement for confidentiality limits access to data outside of VAAFM to those on an as-needed basis and with individual farm identifiers removed or modified. VT Military Department: None VT Agency of Transportation: Yes if you only consider the data posted to VCGI. No for the data kept in-house. VT Agency of Human Services: Data Warehouse is for internal use only and presents aggregate data only. VT Dept. of Labor: No means no. VT Agency of Natural Resources: via VCGI website VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: Proprietary information VT Natural Resources Board: None

IV_D - Please explain

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): VCGI maintains the VGIS Data Warehouse, a comprehensive geospatial data warehousing system. The Warehouse include a web portal which allows users to search for and download a wide rage of geospatial datasets cover the state of Vermont.

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None

VT Dept. of Health: None

VT Enhanced 911 Board: We export our data to VCGI on a bi-monthly basis.

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: VAAFM geospatial data are often created with the cooperation of the agricultural community which includes an express or implied guarantee of confidentiality. This default requirement for confidentiality limits access to data outside of VAAFM to those on an as-needed basis and with individual farm identifiers removed or modified.

VT Military Department: None

VT Agency of Transportation: Yes if you only consider the data posted to VCGI. No for the data kept in-house.

VT Agency of Human Services: Data Warehouse is for internal use only and presents aggregate data only.

VT Dept. of Labor: No means no.

VT Agency of Natural Resources: via VCGI website

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: Proprietary information

VT Natural Resources Board: None

Are geospatial activities typically well coordinated across the organization, minimizing redundant acquisitions, development, maintenance, and training?

Response	# of Responses
Never	1
Rarely	3
Sometimes	2
Often	4
Always	2

Are geospatial activities considered as part of the full organizational budgeting process?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	8
No	4

Are the costs and benefits of inter-organizational geospatial activities recognized by management and consistently considered in identifying opportunities?

Response	# of Responses
Never	2
Rarely	3
Sometimes	5
Often	2

Is the burden for funding GIT equitably shared across the organization?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	6
No	6

Does your organization have access to GIT training and skills development?

Response	# of Responses
Rarely	4
Sometimes	4
Often	4

Does your organization have a GIT training plan?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	3
No	9

Are GIT training and skills development a part of your organization’s budgeting process?

Response	# of Responses
Never	2
Rarely	5
Sometimes	1
Often	2
Always	2

Does your organization have access to adequate desktop GIS/Mapping software and solutions for your current needs?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	10
No	2

Does your organization have access to web-based mapping software and solutions?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	10
No	2

Which of the following GIS/Mapping solutions does your organization currently use, how many licenses, and does it meet the organization’s current needs adequately?

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI)

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	Yes	99	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	Yes	99	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	Yes	99	Yes
AutoCad	No	None	Yes
ArcIMS	Yes	99	Yes
ArcSDE	Yes	99	Yes
MapInfo	No	None	Yes
ArcExplorer	Yes	6	Yes
ArcGIS Server	Yes	99	Yes
MapServer	Yes	1	Yes

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	Yes	2	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	No	None	No
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	Yes	1	Yes
AutoCad	No	None	No
ArcIMS	No	None	No
ArcSDE	No	None	No
MapInfo	No	None	No
ArcExplorer	Yes	4	Yes
ArcGIS Server	No	None	No
MapServer	No	None	No

VT Dept. of Health

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	Yes	7	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	No	None	No
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	No	None	No
AutoCad	No	None	No
ArcIMS	No	None	No
ArcSDE	No	None	No
MapInfo	No	None	No
ArcExplorer	No	None	No
ArcGIS Server	No	None	No
MapServer	No	None	No

VT Enhanced 911 Board

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	Yes	2	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	Yes	2	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	No	None	No
AutoCad	No	None	No
ArcIMS	No	None	No
ArcSDE	Yes	13	Yes
MapInfo	No	None	No
ArcExplorer	Yes	None	No
ArcGIS Server	Yes	None	No
MapServer	No	None	No

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	Yes	10	No
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	No	None	No
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	Yes	1	No
AutoCad	Yes	1	Yes
ArcIMS	No	None	No
ArcSDE	No	None	No
MapInfo	No	None	No
ArcExplorer	Yes	4	Yes
ArcGIS Server	No	None	No
MapServer	No	None	No

VT Military Department

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	No	4	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	No	1	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	No	2	Yes
AutoCad	Yes	None	Yes
ArcIMS	No	None	No
ArcSDE	Yes	1	No
MapInfo	No	None	No
ArcExplorer	Yes	None	No
ArcGIS Server	Yes	1	No
MapServer	No	None	No

VT Agency of Transportation

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	Yes	30	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	No	None	No
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	Yes	7	Yes
AutoCad	No	None	No
ArcIMS	Yes	1	Yes
ArcSDE	Yes	1	Yes
MapInfo	No	None	No
ArcExplorer	No	None	No
ArcGIS Server	Yes	1	Yes
MapServer	No	None	No

VT Agency of Human Services

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	No	None	No
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	No	None	No
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	No	None	No
AutoCad	No	None	No
ArcIMS	No	None	No
ArcSDE	No	None	No
MapInfo	No	None	No
ArcExplorer	No	None	No
ArcGIS Server	No	None	No
MapServer	No	None	No

VT Dept. of Labor

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	Yes	1	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	No	None	No
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	No	None	No
AutoCad	No	None	No
ArcIMS	No	None	No
ArcSDE	No	None	No
MapInfo	No	None	No
ArcExplorer	No	None	No
ArcGIS Server	No	None	No
MapServer	No	None	No

VT Agency of Natural Resources

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	Yes	16	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	Yes	1	No
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	Yes	5	Yes
AutoCad	Yes	None	Yes
ArcIMS	Yes	1	Yes
ArcSDE	Yes	1	Yes
MapInfo	No	None	No
ArcExplorer	Yes	None	No
ArcGIS Server	Yes	1	Yes
MapServer	No	None	No

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	Yes	None	Yes
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	No	None	No
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	Yes	None	No
AutoCad	No	None	No
ArcIMS	No	None	No
ArcSDE	Yes	None	No
MapInfo	No	None	No
ArcExplorer	Yes	None	No
ArcGIS Server	Yes	None	No
MapServer	No	None	No

VT Natural Resources Board

Software	Have it?	# of Licenses	Adequate?
ArcGIS (ArcView license)	Yes	1	No
ArcGIS (ArcEditor license)	No	None	No
ArcGIS (ArcInfo license)	No	None	No
AutoCad	No	None	No
ArcIMS	No	None	No
ArcSDE	No	None	No
MapInfo	No	None	No
ArcExplorer	No	None	Yes
ArcGIS Server	No	None	No
MapServer	No	None	No

Are the GIS/Mapping software and solution licenses up-to-date and maintained by a designated manager?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	9
No	3

Does your organization have access to adequate IT infrastructure (eg: servers, storage, etc.) for your GIS/Mapping needs?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	7
No	5

Does your organization have adequately trained staff to support your organization’s current GIS/Mapping needs?

Response	# of Responses
Never	1
Rarely	2
Sometimes	2
Often	5
Always	2

Is your GIT system integrated into your organization’s overall IT management responsibilities?

Response	# of Responses
Yes	8
No	4

Does your organization have a strategic plan for the use of Geographic Information Technology (GIT)?

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): Yes

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: No

VT Dept. of Health: In-process

VT Enhanced 911 Board: In-process

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: In-process

VT Military Department: No

VT Agency of Transportation: In-process

VT Agency of Human Services: Yes

VT Dept. of Labor: No

VT Agency of Natural Resources: In-process

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: In-process

VT Natural Resources Board: No

How does your organization’s strategic plan leverage inter-organizational collaboration efforts, such as GIT resource sharing, data sharing, etc.?

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): VCGI's strategic plan includes a number of specific goals targeting greater inter-organizational collaboration. Examples include:
- Coordination of GIS activities at the State, regional and national levels.
- Further develop partnerships with all levels of educators in Vermont.
- Work to facilitate reduction of redundant GIS activities among State agencies.
- Coordinate efforts among VCGI and RPCs regarding VSDI data.

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None

VT Dept. of Health: we're hoping to learn from the EGT process how to better coordinate our in-process GIS-related strategic planning language so that it leverages inter-organizational collaboration efforts.

VT Enhanced 911 Board: We use other data sets found on VCGI's wesite as well as using data suplied by the Tax department.

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: See ISMP1 Functional Analysis Document [submitted to VCGI]

Pages 5-14 of the functional analysis document give an executive summary. GIS is considered lower priority for overall agency efficiencies, but high priority critical for emergency response. Additional data on pages 28 through 48, and pages 73-76.

VT Military Department: None

VT Agency of Transportation: Not sure about the GIT and the strategic plan.

VT Agency of Human Services: No inter-organizational collaborative efforts.

VT Dept. of Labor: It dosent

VT Agency of Natural Resources: The plan calls for it in order to gain resource efficiencies.

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: None

VT Natural Resources Board: None

Please provide a short explanation of how you see GIT being used within your organization in the future.

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): VCGI will continue to use GIT as it has done in the past. This includes a range of activities such as data development, data distribution, spatial analysis, and limited cartographic map production. We also anticipate expanding and enhancing our suite of web map services. We believe that we will continue to develop, host, and or support web-based mapping applications. Our recent connection to GovNet will allow us to provide direct GIT support services to State agencies and departments.

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None

VT Dept. of Health: Assuming that federal funding sources for public health GIS do not dry up (CDC!), GIT use at VDH will likely evolve to SDE and to inter-agency shared server data storage solutions. These goals will depend in part on the creation of a full-time GIS Manager position at VDH as well as on more clearly defined job descriptions that allow active use of GIT by appropriate staff.

VT Enhanced 911 Board: We will be using more online editing products.

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: Spatial analysis to identify and solve agricultural and land use problems and exploit new agricultural markets as their potential evolves. Objective is to spatially model viable choices for policy makers well in advance of suspense dates.

Server-based GIT data widely available on web browser map viewers.

Mobile computer PDA devices for GPS data collection and wireless database query in the field.

VT Military Department: None

VT Agency of Transportation: GIT is the visualization and analysis tool for complex transportation data. The use of GIT in the decision making process continues to expand. Efforts are underway to make transportation data available through the Internet to a wide audience through a geospatial framework.

VT Agency of Human Services: For thematic mapping for the Agency Data Warehouse.

VT Dept. of Labor: Continued use of GIS to help our clients understand the geospacial aspets of the labor market in Vermont.

Potential use of QCEW database in emergecy planning/operations when events occur that will affect business openings or emplyee access to places of business

VT Agency of Natural Resources: Day to day mapping and querying of spatial information drilling into non-spatial information - databases, document management, websites. Integration into a ECMS. Focus on data management, data creation and data editing in the future. Greater use of web services.

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: None

VT Natural Resources Board: Georeferenced Act 250 permits; internet map application that can provide GIS data layers on important Act 250 criteria (ANR Environmental Interest Locator map does this currently); limited desktop GIS application.

What are your organizations strengths (based on your personal opinion)? (e.g., experienced staff, funding, authority, political support, communications infrastructure for collaboration, technical skills, marketing skills, etc.)

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI):
- Experienced professional GIS staff
- Experienced Project Managers
- Experienced database administrators
- Experienced web administrators
- Experienced web developers
- Data development and maintenance expertise
- Web mapping services development and hosting expertise
- Data cataloging, warehousing, and distribution expertise
- Experience managing and supporing client relationships
- Strong outreach/marketing to the VT GIS community
- Metadata development and management expertise
- Small and nimble
- Independence
- Performance driven

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None

VT Dept. of Health: VDH has a seasoned group of active GIS users. So far, GIT users at VDH have had good IT support. Also, federal funding for emergency preparedness has successfully supported training as well as software & hardware acquisition.

VT Enhanced 911 Board: e911 experienced staff, funding has always seemed adequate, pollitcal and managerial support has always been strong.

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: Long-term experience with GIS and GPS in field survey appliations. Established GIS program grant funding for over 15 years. Strong technical skills with the software available. Tradition of internal collaboration within [not always between] agency divisions, and GIS staff in other agencies in state and federal government.

An Agency recognized and respected by its regulated community for unusually high technical competence, regulatory fairness, and marketing innovation in support of agriculture.

VT Military Department: Staff is responsive and quick to service customers.

VT Agency of Transportation: The Agency is well funded relative to GIT. The software tools are current and the Agency is able to perform the necessary tasks through collaboration between multiple Units. The manageable size of the GIT community is an asset for the Agency.

VT Agency of Human Services: AHS is largest agency in State government. Central office is playing an increasingly important role in enterprise IT solutions.

VT Dept. of Labor: With respect to GIS - very few. I have limited use and experience of mapping software and its applications. I am the only asset I am aware of inthe Department.

VT Agency of Natural Resources: management support, budget, infrastructure, software, staff, large GIS-aware user base

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: We have an extremely engaged workforce that clearly see the benefits of accurate spatial information. We have also identified numerous opportunities to share work efforts outside of the Agency to create a more streamlined exchange of data.

VT Natural Resources Board: None

What are your organizations weaknesses (based on your personal opinion)?

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI):
- Limited staff resources (3 tech staff - 3 other)
- Limited financial resources
- Weakness is certain area of IT, such as system administration, security, etc.
- Lack of authority and legitimacy within certain government circles (seen as being outside of state gov).
- Lack of teeth to enforce VT GIS policies and standards.

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None

VT Dept. of Health: VHD IT operations staff were recently absorbed by the larger AHS agency. This has resulted in an increased workload on IT staff serving VDH GIT and we worry that this will end up decreasing the overall level of IT support at VDH for GIT. Year-to-year federal funding and the lack of any dedicated GIS staff position remain important concerns. For example, there are currently no general-funded staff at VDH that use GIT.

VT Enhanced 911 Board: Lack of staff

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets: Budget stovepipes, restrictive grant requirements, ESRI licensing hassles, lack of training $ to upgrade skills, lack of time for training, too few people juggling too many things, turf wars between divisions, lack of management training in spatially-supported decision-making, wildly divergent needs, disagreement on goals and priorities, decisions deferred too late.

VT Military Department: Lack of a clear vision. Some transition is being made at the Department of Defense level to a larger nation wide enterprise system.

VT Agency of Transportation: The lack of staffing has been a negative for quite some time, there is far more work to be done than manpower allows. There is a large unmet need for GIT and data development.

VT Agency of Human Services: Lack of expertise and funding.

VT Dept. of Labor: Same as above.

VT Agency of Natural Resources: implementing standards and enforcement, staff as business demands change, programming skillsets in IT, more training for staff

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: As with all Agencies, there are numerous barriers to leveraging other GIS commodities within the State. Funding of projects and infrastructure changes are challenged.

VT Natural Resources Board: Small, inexperienced staff.

Is there anything else you would like to say regarding GIT within or outside your organization?

VT Center for Geographic Information (VCGI): I believe this Enterprise GIS Initiative is critical to the development of a more capable and efficient GIS within State government.

VT Property Valuation, Tax Dept, Agency of Administration: None

VT Dept. of Health: GIT use and demand for additional use at VHD has grown consistently during the last few years. Several key managers are supportive of sustaining and improving GIT use and are engaged in the creation of strategic planning language that solidifies the standing of public health GIS at VDH.

VT Enhanced 911 Board: None

VT Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets:
VAAFM IT Quandary Process Cycle

1] Chronic Lack of Money-->

-Smallest of all the State Agencies
-Disproportionate impact of across-the-board budget cuts
-Perception of lower investment priority...Ag can always get by with less
-Strong Team Player ethicGovernor can always count on us to perform, regardless of lack of resources
-Perception that miracle workers dont need tangible budget commitments

Which leads to...
2] Discouraging the Maintenance of IT Standards -->

-Standards are the IT infrastructure that an organization of similar complexity and responsibilities to ours would require to succeed
-IT standards are independent of Agency size
-IT standards include up-to-date hardware & software licenses, proactive computer procurement, user training and technical support, adequate staff
-We have not realized until now that IT is a critical Ag competency
-We show by our habits of isolation that IT government and industry standards accepted elsewhere are not followed here, and somehow thats OK
Which Leads to...

3] Encouraging a Scarcity Mindset & Scarcity Innovation -->

-Habit of cannibalizing programs, people and resources for ad hoc solutions to todays crises -which are often last weeks, months, or years crises disguised in a new form.
-Self-fulfilling prophecy of: Theres never enough resources so don't even ask, don't even dare bring it up.

The Scarcity Mindset develops the habit of Scarcity Innovation:
- Validation for saving/not spending $, regardless of need
- Constant crisis mode excitement/ Superhero syndrome
- We overestimate the ability of isolated people to solve enterprise level- problems
- Our proud independent Agency status sometimes causes us to act in isolation, without looking hard for other outside resources
- A healthy bias for action sometimes lead to a knee-jerk take ANY action!, instead of maintaining a deliberate planning process over time [as we are starting to do now with ISMP-1]
- We do the Urgent but perhaps less Important so well, that the Important but less Urgent things go unsolved and forgotten
- Unable to see a slow but steady erosion of ability [burnout], which gives us no margin of safety in a prolonged crisis [e.g. FMD event]

4] Scarcity Innovation Leads to Unrealistic Management Expectations -->

- IT staff cannot give management hard numbers on how great our backlog is because we have not actively used a structure instituted to track the gap between capability and tasking demands [project management software, capital budgets in real time]
- Without hard numbers, Agency management has limited ability to either argue for more resources or to deflect well-meaning but impossible demands
- Without a clear go/ no-go decision process in place, its easier just to accept the overflow and work nights and weekends when the interruption level is lowestwe get the crisis job done, regardless of what else is ignored
- Our people are fantastic miracle workers they always come through for us! You are remarkably competent people former Agency Secretary Kerr

Which Leads to...

5] The Projection of an Unrealistic Agency Image -->

- Very close proximity to Statehouse and Governors Office
- Managing political turbulence requires all management attention and skills
- Mundane IT operational needs get pushed aside by urgent political issues that cannot be ignored
- VAAFM has a justly proud reputation as outstanding crisis managers other agencies may have a publicly embarrassing failure, but we dont. Ever.
- Agency functions so well with so little for so long that more tasks are accepted without complaint as simultaneously more resources [budget, staffing] are withheld nothing personal against VAAFM, just the statewide process belt-tightening process affecting everybody]
- VAAFM jealously guards expertise and statutory turf from other agencies with less ability than ours in these areas, but who still have more resources than we do --we realistically cant say yes because of our current workload, and we dont dare say no, because of our obligation and commitment to farmers

Which Leads to...

6] Governors Office and Legislature have a mental model that VAAFM can continue to get by with less, because only we can understand our unique situation

- Complexities of spending authority, hiring caps, federal match of of non-federal dollars, grant allocation tracking requirements are very hard to fully explain to anyone outside of our operating environment without a model
- Our uniqueness leads to a hands-off attitude to providing additional resources --if Ag really needed them, they wouldnt be so good at what they do. So whats the problem?

Which Leads to... Back to #1 again Chronic Lack of Money

How to get out of the trap:

- Dedicated project manager, either in-house or on loan from another agency, to gain early wins and maintain momentum
- Use ISMP-1 document as baseline for IT standards, flesh it out with useful standards adopted from other organizations of similar complexity
- Adopt the standard of what things actually cost, rather than what we can only guess that we might cobble together, by using opportunity cost model: adding the total cost delays and penalties of what we need to get done [managers urgent action items] that arent getting done vs. the money we hope we might save by doing it all in house. Make time our ally, not our enemy.
- Use our IT capital budget as a real-time tool for the IT group, instead of pro forma requirement we forget about.
- Try web-based project management software as a pilot, then expand use
- Require new project requests to be framed in a standard estimate form no more gee, what would it take to do this? fishing questions that havent been really thought out yet
- Make IT staff give solid estimates based on a standard estimate form, so that the IT group can approve or disapprove the project request
- IT Group gives VAAFM management solid data on our project and IT infrastructure cost needs as ammunition for more resources
- Educate influential legislators about IT improvements and the benefits for their district
- Document our adherence to project management best practices, starting with the ISMP-1 document as evidence that we are an agency with serious IT responsibilities that require serious, sustained resources
- Showcase VAAFM core competencies [why we are the best agency for the given task] matched with an IT tool or process that will speed up the result. We have a reputation for innovating faster than other agencies can delay or obstruct an overlooked but crucial strength we should build on.

"Why VAAFM is unique and deserving of additional resources:
- Synergistic and leveraged skill-sets /responsibilities
- Highly responsive to both site-specific and regional issues
- Event-driven masters of complexity

VT Military Department: None

VT Agency of Transportation: The survey reflects the opinions and answers of both Shawn Nailor and Johnathan Croft, IT and Mapping Units respectively.

The Agency has been a leader in GIT in Vermont for quite some time and the Mapping Unit has contributed by accepting the stewardship of the road centerline data layer. This data is maintained in an enterprise format and is the foundation to much of the work done by the Agency of Transportation.

VT Agency of Human Services: Within operational departments, there are GIT activities taking place. In the near future, GIT activities will be underway at the AHS Central office. For the new Agency Data Warehouse, place based data elements are built using the VCGI geographic codes standards.

VT Dept. of Labor: None

VT Agency of Natural Resources: None

VT Agency of Commerce and Community Development: There were some really inane questions asked in this survey. Not the best structure I have ever worked with. However, I think that you can garner quite a bit of good information if the input was taken seriously.