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GIS in Local Government

Geographic information system (GIS) technology in local government has been implemented to support many government functions, and its use is expanding every day. GIS implementation at the local level depends on several factors. These factors and functions are described in more detail below.

Distributed versus Centralized Environments

A local government GIS may be implemented in either a distributed or a centralized environment. In the distributed environment, GIS exist in different departments, each of which provides tools and analysis for their own use. In the distributed environment, practitioners may share all, some, or none of their data between departments. In the centralized environment, most spatial data are provided on a common platform for storage and dissemination that adheres to standards set by the jurisdiction. A centralized environment accommodates ...

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