The West Virginia GIS Program:
A Decade of Progress, A Future of Promise
Craig A. Neidig
WV Geological & Economic Survey
WV State GIS Coordinator
Chairman, WVSAMB
WV GIS Program History
Ad Hoc GIS User Group (1989)
State GIS Development Plan (1992)
Executive Order No. 4-93
H.B. 2222 (1995)
Mineral Lands Mapping Program (1996)
Information Technology Committee (1997)
State Information Technology Plan (1998)
Statewide Addressing and Mapping Board (2001)
GIS Coordination Reorganization
Subcommittee (2005)
Major State GIS Initiatives
Mineral Lands Mapping Program
Statewide Digital Orthophotography Program
Digital Line Graph Project
National Hydrographic Database
Statewide Addressing and Mapping Project
Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps
High-Resolution Satellite Imagery
Enhanced Digital Elevation Model
State GIS Accomplishments
Creation of framework geospatial data layers
Moved from 1:24000 to 1:4800 scale < 10 yrs
USGS "quad" sheets to 1"-400' local data
Paper maps to digital coverages
Model for other states and feds
History of cooperation and cost-sharing
Growing in-state technical expertise
Maturing GIS community (state, local,
private sector, NGOs)
Main State Agency GIS Users
(see 2006 WV GIS Agency Roll Call for complete list)
Division of Environmental Protection
Division of Natural Resources
Dept. of Health and Human Resources
Geological & Economic Survey
Tax Department
Division of Highways
Legislative Services
Agriculture
Other Major State GIS Cooperators
West Virginia University
Rahall Appalachian Transportation Institute
Canaan Valley Institute
Glenville, Concord, Shepherd, etc.
Miss Utility of West Virginia
"Call Before You Dig"
WV Society of Land Surveyors
WV Association of Counties
Major Federal GIS Cooperators
US Geological Survey
US Department of Agriculture
NRCS, FSA, Forest Service
US Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Surface Mines, MHSA
Dept. of Homeland Security (ODP)
FEMA
Census Bureau
How GIS benefits the State
Planning and Zoning ("Smart Growth")
Environmental Compliance
Infrastructure Development
Disaster Management
Public Safety and Homeland Security
Redistricting, voting, and boundary issues
Revenue (e.g., Streamline Sales Tax)
Cost savings (via standards and interoperability)
Jobs (high-tech surveying and engineering)
Measures of State GIS Success
Statewide Addressing and Mapping Program
Underground Mine Map Initiative (MHSA)
FEMA FIRM Mapping Partnerships
Federal Co-op Awards (USGS, FGDC, USDA)
Multiple ESRI Innovative Projects awards
Framework data development, e.g.,
1/9 arcsecond (3-meter) DEM first in nation !
National geospatial program recognition
(NSGIC, URISA, AAG, etc.)
www.mapwv.gov internet mapping portal (3/2006)
Mine Safety Incident system
Future Steps for GIS Program
Revise and renew Executive Order 4-93
Revise sections of W.Va. Code pertaining to mapping
Propose legislation "legitimating" GIS
Revise and update State GIS Strategic Plan
Restructure GIS Council at Executive Level
Elevate GIS in state IT organization
Provide core funding for GIS Coordination
Maintain base funding in agency GIS offices
Make GIS a mission critical agency function
Create Land Records Modernization Program
Possible GIS cost recovery models
Tax Map sales
Tax parcel maps (currently $5.00/sheet [paper])
Price structure for shapefiles and custom maps
eCommerce - Internet sales (credit card)
Permits and Legal notices
Modest surcharge for map maintenance
Utility and 9-1-1 fees
Split with counties and agencies for long-term
database maintenance
Licensing
e.g., royalties from sale of commercial GIS
products using WV data (Google, etc.)
Strategies for State GIS Growth
Build on existing IT capabilities (e.g., Oracle, Web)
Leverage and enhance existing data resources
Provide usable products and services at minimal cost
Identify mapping and GIS as "mission critical"
Invest in geospatial data as a "capital" asset
Implement and enforce geospatial "best practices"
Tie to regulatory requirements (i.e., permitting)
Water Resources Protection Act (2005)
Recruit and retain in-state GIS technical workforce
Inform and educate decision makers and political leaders
Make GIS "transparent" part of everyday state business
The West Virginia GIS Program:
A Decade of Progress, A Future of Opportunity
Craig A. Neidig
WV GIS Coordinator
Greenbrooke Bldg.
1124 Smith St., Rm LM-10
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 558-4218
Fax: (304) 558-4963
cneidig@gis.state.wv.us