Community Demonstration Project

Mapping our course for the future...

Community/Federal Information Project presentation
Project list
Mar 99 status presentation

GOALS:

To show how cross-government, cross-functional geospatial data, maps and applications help solve community problems
To support results-driven management practices which use timely mapping data
To strengthen efforts to set cross-government, interoperable standards for data sharing
To supply federal expertise for resolving data, policy, standards, and technical issues related to cross-government information sharing
To share results of these pilots nationwide

Background: Imagine this future: A city is successfully reducing and preventing crime with the help of maps showing crime activity by type, location, time of day and day of week. Maps with differing levels of detail are used in headquarters, precincts, and community meetings. When police and citizens see hot spots for crime, officials rapidly mobilize resources with targeted goals and great results. When crime mapping data is displayed with housing, sanitation, public health, planning and social services data, partnerships of city officials, community residents, private and non-profit organizations plan extremely effective actions for improving the city's quality of life. When maps and information about federal programs and funding streams are added to the analysis, resources are leveraged for further improvements in community services. The key to success is everyone has a common, visual view of problem areas and available resources.

At the county level, critical issues such as land use, which have environmental and quality of life consequences for communities, are also portrayed visually. From their multi-layered database of information, specialized maps are created to help solve specific problems, such as the impact of land use changes on the environment over time. Working together, county officials and citizens use analysis and visualization software tools to develop a county land use plan that minimizes impacts to environmentally sensitive areas, and maximizes county well being. Again, the key to success is that everyone has a common, visual view of problem areas, possible solutions, available resources and a baseline to measure results.

These geography based, results-driven models of community management are only a few examples of trend that is revolutionizing management and decision making in American cities and communities.

However, many problems remain. Spatial standards, practices, and principles are slow in being implemented. These are critical to a high level of data sharing, and the ability to collaborate effectively with neighboring jurisdictions. Federal support to communities can be improved to provide more comprehensive access to data, technical and other services. Finally, local community success stories need to be highlighted in ways that allow other communities to accelerate their application of these lessons to their operations.

Approach: This Demonstration Project will be implemented in city, county, and watershed areas around the country, and will address the following categories of issues: crime prevention and reduction, watershed and water quality management, disaster preparedness and recovery, urban growth and land use planning. The Demonstration period will run form July 1999 through May 2000, with each project community designated as a National Performance Review Reinvention Lab.

At the federal level, a single NSDI Demonstration Project Lead will be identified to assure overall project integrity, resolution of cross-site issues, coordination, documentation of progress and results, and to facilitate cross-team communication. At the community level, a Community Planning and Implementation Team, including local and federal staff, will be responsible for planning and implementation. In addition, sponsoring agencies will identify a high level official to act as a "project champion" to assure that all possible federal resources are identified and that federal support issues are worked in a timely manner. At the local level, a Community Champion and/or project lead may also be identified to provide visibility and support.

The following communities were selected for this demonstration effort: Baltimore Police Department, MD, Dane County, WI, Gallatin County, MT, Tillamook County, OR, Tijuana River Watershed and Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna River Watershed

Points of Contact: John Moeller, Executive for the Federal Geographic Data Committee, (703) 648-5752; or Mark DeMulder, USGS, (703) 648-4514, mdemulde@usgs.gov.