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GIS Cooperative Meeting Notes

Tuesday, December 17, 2002

In Attendance: David Hochede, Christine O'Connor, Ries Lindley, Steve Smith, Chris Kelleher, Jim Ebert, Dave Koss, Bob Czaja, Anna Sanchez, Mary Szczepanski, Donald Ijams, Chris Mack (Marana), Andrew Acuff (PCDSD), Steve Harding (PCWWM), Daniel Casey, Robert MacArthur (UofA), Cheryl Van De Beuken, Raul Duato (Oro Valley), Manny Rosas (PAG), Ron Platt.

Ron Platt presiding.

Presentation to Don Ijams - Ron Platt

Todd Sander, CIO, presented Don with a special award honoring him for his efforts (Link to pictures of the ceremony)

Don Ijams was our pioneer. Three years ago, Don volunteered for an experiment with a GIS Cooperative. His dedication to public service and the group is much appreciated. The Cooperative still exists and is growing. Although at times the meetings are sparse, the group as a whole usually reads meeting minutes and keeps up on the issues. We need to all thank Don for carrying the load for us so that we may continue to grow. I personally thank Don for handing a functioning structure over to me.

Goals as Chairman - Ron Platt
  • Focus on business discussions. We have many issues to deal with, data layer maintenance, data standards, education, and policy are critical to our evolution. We will have dog and pony shows, but will first focus on the business at hand.
  • Re-establish functioning committees.
  • Develop a Mentor Program.
  • Involve more "regional" participants. We had guests from Oro Valley, Marana, PAG, Pima County, and the U of A (see attendees list above). Regional participation will allow for greater development of all GIS in the Tucson Valley.
  • Demo more GIS software platforms (feature extraction and 3D software, MapGuide, AutoCAD Map, free Java GIS software, etc.). Any ideas or product demo suggestions are appreciated.
  • Implement a comfortable scheme to maintain critical City data layers (Rio Nuevo, wards, neighborhoods, zoning, etc.).

Committees Formalized

Mentor Program

    Concept is to have a "pool" of qualified experts available to assist Cooperative members with GIS projects. Committee volunteers to date: Russ Riblett, Bob Czaja, Andrerw Acuff, Ron Platt.

Data Standards

    Volunteers: Manny Rosas, Chris Mack, Raul Duato, Andrew Acuff, Steve Whitney, Robert MacArthur, DBA to be assigned by City IT, Ron Platt.

Education Committee

    Since the meeting, Vickey Bagley has stepped forward and volunteered to continue with the Education Committee. Vickey will be soliciting volunteers.

  • Discussed need to provide "target" classes for special needs such as a class for "mailing labels."
  • We need to define categories of users. For example one group may only need to look up parcel information or turn on layers to view on web sites, other groups may be data collectors, and then there are high level or "power user" groups…those that create and maintain data and systems.
  • This committee will be responsible for monthly educational bits.
  • Vickey and Ron will put together a list of ideas to get started with and solicit feedback from the Cooperative.

Regional Cost Benefit Analysis - Manny Rosas

Manny Rosas discussed the Pima Association of Government's (PAG) project to compile a cost benefit study of the orthophotography projects. A consultant will complete this study sometime in January and it will be available to all member jurisdictions at that time. Although the study focuses on the digital orthophotography and related data terrain models, the analysis will give us a good idea of the benefits to the public as a result of all GIS efforts. The orthophotography has driven the fast paced GIS development in the region in addition to having many benefits in itself.

2002 Regional Orthophotography

Approximately 1300 square miles of one-foot color imagery will soon be available to the region as a result of PAG's 2002 orthophoto project. Deliveries should begin in January 2003. Also, there are approximately 700 square miles of one-foot imagery in UTM projection for the USGS partnership that was recently forged with PAG. The color images will certainly be available on the TDOT image server. They may also be available on MARS.

"Orphan" Data Sets

The phrase "Orphan" data sets is one which\ refers to shapefiles that have been maintained by some interested person in the City. The ambitious person has usually offered to maintain the shapefile due to a passion for the overall GIS effort. There are also critical data sets needed by all City or regional staff. Examples of orphan data sets are Rio Nuevo, City wards, and City neighborhoods. At this point in time, the investment into these shapefiles is unprotected. Should certain key people go away, the data would stumble and fall. The Cooperative needs to figure a solution to this problem.

There is an assignment for all Cooperative members by next meeting (bring a list with you to the meeting or email me in the meantime). The assignment is to list the data sets we have (in addition to the ones mentioned) that are being maintained by "volunteers."

We will then need to determine the appropriate organization to maintain the data and then train staff as needed.

Next Meeting:

Tuesday, January 21, 2003 / 3:00 P.M / City I.T. Pueblo Room