Beyond Maps: GIS Decision Making in Local Government

Description:

State and local agencies are under increasing pressure to streamline business practices while adhering to complex political or regulatory requirements. To do so, they must digest huge amounts of information, most of which is tied to a very specific geographic location--a street, an address, a park, a piece of land. As a result, geographic information system (GIS) technology has become indispensable for most large and many small local governments.

Beyond Maps looks beyond the mechanics of the technology to show how local governments can make geographic information systems true management tools. It explores a number of innovative ways to use GIS to improve local government operations and explains the unique capabilities of GIS. Covering a wide spectrum of applications for local governments, Beyond Maps explains the key implementation issues and common pitfalls that every state or city government needs to understand.

Packed with real-life examples, this book will help you find creative solutions to local government problems, and integrate public values into decision making.

 

Part 1: GIS Tools and Their Implications for Local Government Decision Making

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: GIS and Decision Making

Chapter 3: Developing GIS Programs and Capabilities

Chapter 4: Design Principles to Guide GIS Use

Part 2: The Uses of GIS in Local Government

Chapter 5: Integrating Public Values Using GIS Technology

Chapter 6: Using GIS to Promote Efficiency

Chapter 7: Using GIS to Promote Equity

Chapter 8: Using GIS to Promote Community Viability

Chapter 9: Using GIS to Promote Environmental Quality

Part 3: Policy Making in an Age of GIS

Chapter 10: Ethical and Legal Issues

Chapter 11: The Implications of GIS Ownership

Chapter 12: Telling Visual Stories: Using Maps to Build Community