GIS and spatial data are driving forces in the rapidly growing knowledge-based economy and "electronic democracy" that is profoundly changing American society.  This advanced information technology really is a new communication language that is fundamentally changing the way government, private industry, and citizens make long-term strategic as well as everyday decisions.  It is essential that Congress is well informed about GIS and takes an active role in working with all levels of government, private industry, and citizens to support policies that will advance this important technology in the best possible manner. 

GIS has made it possible to visualize and understand complex relationships between people and places that are the building blocks of communities.  Essentially, GIS and spatial data will enable all levels of government to provide better services to the public in a more cost effective and efficient manner.  Using GIS will assist efforts to accomplish economic development, environmental restoration, "smart growth" land-use planning and sustainable development, emergency services, disaster mitigation, and countless other activities that will enhance the "livability" of communities. 

Today, GIS is being rapidly implemented or already in use in tens of thousands of communities from coast to coast as well as throughout state agencies and the federal government.  In addition to numerous civilian applications, the federal government uses GIS and spatial data to support critical decision making for foreign policy, national security, and defense.

However, the success story of GIS and spatial data is beneficial not only to the government and the economy:  the integration of GIS with the World Wide Web has made this technology easily accessible and usable for millions of citizens.  There is an old saying that "a picture is worth a thousand words."  I would update this adage by stating that "an image created by GIS is worth ten thousand words."  I believe that providing citizens with access to this tremendous wealth of knowledge will be invigorating for our democracy as well as an engine for ingenuity and innovation.

While the future holds incredible promise for GIS and spatial data, I am concerned that this potential will not be realized unless all levels of government and the private sector work closely to accomplish four goals.

·        First, there should be more cooperation to form spatial data collection, production, maintenance, and sharing agreements that will make it possible to build GIS that can be simultaneously used by all levels of government as well as the private sector.

·        Second, all levels of government and the private sector should adopt and implement national data standards and interoperable system.

·        Third, all levels of government and the private sector should work together to implement the concept of "locally independent, regionally coordinated multiple-purpose GIS," which will build a National Spatial Data Infrastructure in the most cost effective and efficient method.

·        Finally and most important, I believe it is imperative that Congress becomes more engaged in efforts to promote "best practices" and provide the necessary resources to implement this technology in manner that will yield the greatest benefits for society. 

The work of a few dedicated GIS professionals in Pennsylvania has clearly illustrated the leverage potential of modest federal investments in a community-based GIS program.  Through the implementation of what they define as a "locally independent, regionally coordinated multiple-purpose GIS" program, a total of nine counties comprising more than 4,500 square miles in Central Pennsylvania joined together in a unified effort to implement GIS. 

With a 3 year federal investment of approximately $750,000, they were able to carry out coordination activities that ultimately leveraged more than $10 million in non-federal investment in GIS while producing highly accurate spatial data that is being put to use by all levels of government and the private sector.  Even if local communities were able to leverage only half as much investment as we have accomplished, the potential is still significant.  Also as a result of this locally independent yet regionally coordinated approach, participating elements of local government experienced saving in their investment of up to 76%.

Knowing of the success of this concept in Central Pennsylvania, I encouraged that an educational-public-private partnership be formed called the Pennsylvania GIS Consortium to build locally independent, regionally coordinated multiple-purpose GIS in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  The Consortium has begun to establish technical assistance partnerships with public and private sector groups as well as other GIS programs around the country that share this vision for the technology.  I believe the Consortium holds much promise for the communities and citizens of Northeastern Pennsylvania.  I ask that you consider collaboration with them as you develop your GIS.

©2001 PAGIS