URISA’s GIS Management Institute

Greg Babinski, MA, GISP
Finance & Marketing Manager
King County GIS Center
Seattle, WA
URISA President
Summit Chief Editor
URISA’s GIS Management Institute
Singapore Land Authority
6 August 2012

URISA and the Development of a
Geospatial Society: Key Themes
The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association:
1. The past and URISA’s engineering origins: 50 years of
geospatial accomplishment
2. The present and URISA’s relevance for a geospatial society
3. URISA’s role and a vision for the future geospatial society

Dr. Edgar M. Horwood
Professor of Civil Engineering and Urban Planning
University of Washington School of Engineering
URISA Founder
The Development of a Geospatial Society:
Past Foundations
Professor Horwood’s simple but disruptive
question to the U.S. Census Bureau in 1962:
“Can you let me have the 1960 census data for
the U.S. on digital tape?”

Edgar Horwood and the birth of URISA:
 Working with University of Washington Geography
Department – established a short course on data mapping
presented in 1962 and 1963
 1963 to 1966 Urban Planning Information Systems and
Programs Conferences for short course alumni
 1963 Conference considered first URISA Annual
Conference
 In 1966 the Urban and Regional Information Systems
Association (URISA) was formally established with Dr.
Horwood as first President.
Past Foundations

URISA and the development of geospatial technology:
 URISA short course 1963 graduate Howard Fischer
assumed the challenge to develop an improved card
mapping system
 Fischer developed SYMAP for automated chloropleth and
contour mapping
 In 1965 Fischer established the Harvard Computer
Graphics Laboratory where he released computer mapping
source code
 Jack Dangermond developed ArcInfo from the Harvard
R&D program
Past Foundations

URISA and the development of geospatial society:
 Annual Conferences and Proceedings from 1963 to present
 URISA Journal – Continued peer-reviewed academic focus
 Exemplary Systems in GIS (ESIG) Awards
 Basic URISA formula:
How to use technology x plus spatial data y for
government business purpose z
Past Foundations

Domains Discussed in URISA Conference Proceedings:
Past Foundations
• access to data issues
• access to data policies
• access to information issues
• access to information policies
• applications of data systems
• applications of geographic information systems
(GIS)
• applications of information systems (IS)
• applications of land information systems (LIS)
• assessing GIS benefits
• assessing IS benefits
• assessing management information system (MIS)
benefits
• asset management systems
• attribute data
• automated cartography
• automated data processing
• automated mapping,
• automated vehicle tracking
• cartographic principles and practices
• centralization/decentralization issues
• census
• climate change monitoring system
• code enforcement information system
• community health information system
• complaints-based municipal standard of care
response system
• complaints-based inspector dispatch system
• computer-aided dispatch
• computer-aided mass appraisal
• computer-communications systems
• confidentiality and privacy issues and practices
• consultants and data conversion tasks
• consultants and IS/GIS/LIS design and
implementation
• contour mapping,
• coordinate systems
• COTS – OSS/FS – Saas
• criminal justice information system
• data access control plan
• data acquisition alternatives
• data conversion processes
• data dictionary
• data generation techniques
• data layers/overlays
• data maintenance
• data models
• data sharing issues/protocols
• data sources and data acquisition/transfer caveats and
protocols
• data standards
• decision support information system

Past Foundations
• development monitoring/tracking information
system
• devolution impact on municipal government
information services
• digital elevation model
• digital mapping
• digital terrain model
• dispatch Information system
• ”Doomsday Map”
• economic development information system
• electronic data processing
• emergency response information system
• enterprise geographic information system
• environmental impact assessment information
system
• environmental information system
• environmental technical information system
• evaluating information system performance
• exemplary systems/best practices
• expert and knowledge-based information system
• facility management system
• financial information system
• fiscal impact analysis
• fiscal information system
• geocoding
• geodatabase structures
• geographic base file
• geographically-referenced data storage and retrieval
system
• geographic concepts defining GIS
• geographic information system (GIS)
• geographic knowledge system
• geomatics
• georeferencing
• geospatial technology
• geostatistics
• GIS planning and implementation
• GIS trends
• global positioning systems
• globalization impact on community information
strategies
• Google (street view, etc.)
• hazard information systems
• health information system
• housing information system
• human resources management information system
• imaging systems
• impact assessment principles/practices/techniques
• indexes and other metrics for
evaluating/grading/measuring performance
• informatics
• information and knowledge bases for decision-making

Past Foundations
• Information interchange protocols
• information management systems
• information research services
• information science
• information society
• information system architecture
• information system functionality
• information system performance
• information systems and critical/essential
infrastructure
• information system trends
• informational activity criteria
• informing and listening to the public
• infrastructure management and maintenance
information system
• in-house/out-source principles and practices
• institutional and organizational factors
• institutional maxims and conditions
• integrating land records databases
• integrated municipal information system
• integrated system development
• interactive GIS
• interdependent infrastructures and information
systems
• intergovernmental information system
• internet GIS
• land information system
• land market information system
• land parcel information system
• land records information system
• land registration information system
• land/structure/occupancy database
• land use classification systems
• legacy systems
• legal issues
• LiDAR
• management information system,
• measuring information system return on investment
• mental health data system
• metadata
• methods and techniques of spatial analysis
• metropolitan information system
• mobile LiDAR
• motor vehicle accident records information system
• multi-jurisdictional geographic information system
• multimedia systems and applications in local government
• multipurpose cadastre
• multi-purpose land information system
• municipal information system
• national spatial data infrastructure (NSDI)
• natural resources information system
• needs analysis – data

Past Foundations
• needs analysis – information
• needs analysis – policy information/knowledge bases
• object-oriented database
• online mapping
• open systems and architecture
• pedestrian-sensitive intersection traffic safety system
• plan, program, budget information system
• planning and evaluation information system
• planning information system
• planning research information system
• police management information system
• policy objective, formation, and evaluation system
• policy research information system
• privatization impact on public sector information
services
• productivity measurement
• project performance information system
• property assessment information system
• property inspections information system
• property standards by-law enforcement system
• prosecution management information system
• public participation geographic information system
• public policy and IS/GIS/LIS inputs
• quality assurance for GIS
• quality control procedures and systems
• real estate information system
• regional management information system
• relational database-management system,
• remote sensing systems
• residential appraisal information system
• resource allocation models
• return on investment principles and practices
• routing systems (vehicles, utilities, etc.)
• school districting information system
• social indicators information system
• spatial analysis for business
• spatial analysis techniques,
• spatial data infrastructures
• spatial data transfer standard (SDTS)
• spatial data warehouse
• standard of care information obligations
• street addressing
• topology
• traffic management information system,
• transit planning information system
• transportation information system
• water and wastewater information system
• urban data models
• urban development information system
• urban information system
• zoning information system

 URISA’s 50th Annual Conference – GIS-Pro 2012
 URISA Journal – Academic Indexing
 The GIS Professional – Practitioner based articles and
news
 Specialty Conferences: Addressing, Assessing, Transit,
Public Health – plus Caribbean Conference
 20 day long workshops
 Weeklong URISA Leadership Academy
Present Contributions

 29 regional chapters (newest chapter in UAE)
 International affiliation: SSSI in Australia and New Zealand
 Founded the GIS Certification Institute (GISP Program)
 Initiated the Coalition of Geospatial Organizations (COGO)
 Instrumental in development of the US DOL ‘Geospatial
Technology Competency Model’ (GTCM)
 Development of the USDOL ‘Geospatial Management
Competency Model’ (GMCM) in progress
 Developed the URISA Municipal GIS Capability Maturity
Model (GISCMM)

URISA’s GISCorps
 Volunteer based support to emergency relief,
humanitarian, health, and environmental projects around
the world
 1,600 volunteers
 100+ Projects
 2012 Presidential Award

Washington Chapter of URISA (www.waurisa.org)
 2012 Washington GIS Conference – 7-9 May 2012 (300
attendees expected)
 The Summit – Washington State GIS Newsletter
 Summit Award – Annual Award for GIS contribution
 Dick Thomas Student Paper Competition
 Educational Workshops

URISA and the future of geospatial society:
 URISA Proceedings & URISA Journal online and searchable
(project in progress – but additional financial support
needed)
 URISA Listserv – closed communications amongst URISA
members – a virtual GIS ‘silicon valley’
 URISA Connect webinars – allowing delivery of education
worldwide
Future Vision

Origins and why focus on GIS management?
What is the business need?
What will the GMI do?
What will the GMI do in cooperation with others?
Why URISA?
Who will use the GMI and why?
How will the GMI operate?
Questions and suggestions?

Originated with basic questions:
 What causes variation in municipal GIS operations?
 Why do some GIS operations fail?
 Each municipality is unique
 City and county business focus often varies
 Population
 Nature and level of economic development
 GIS development history and funding
 GIS operational budget and staffing
 GIS strategic plan
 Municipality’s institutional expectations
 GIS operational vision – or lack of vision?

 What causes variation in municipal GIS operations?
 Why do some GIS operations fail?
Outcome: URISA’s GIS Capability Maturity Model
 Maturity for the model indicates progression of an organization
towards GIS capability that maximizes:
 Potential for the use of state of the art GIS technology
 Commonly recognized quality data
 Organizational best practices appropriate for municipal business use
 The Municipal GIS Capability Maturity Model assumes two broad
areas of GIS operational development:
 Enabling capability
 Execution process ability
See: URISA Proposes a Local Government GIS Capability Maturity Model:
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/winter1011articles/urisa-
proposes.html

 Is there a GIS profession?
2010 -URISA Commits to Develop Tier 9: The Geospatial
Management Competency Model
URISA GMCM Core Team:
 David DiBiase
 Patrick Kennelly
 Greg Babinski
 Rebecca Somers & Pete Croswell
 Dr. Chi-hong Sun, Taiwan
 Dianne Haley, Canada
 Nick Lawrence, Australia
 Coordination with USDOLETA
 URISA’s GMCM delivered to DOLETA
June 8, 2012
http://www.urisa.org/gmcm_review

 Is there a GIS profession?
 What is the GIS Profession’s Moral Imperative?
 Does GIS provide value to society?
Is There a GIS Profession?
ArcNews, Summer 2012: Strengthening the GIS Profession, by
David DiBiase
What is the Moral Imperative of the GIS Profession?
The GIS profession uses geographic theory, spatial analysis, and
geospatial technology to help society manage the Earth’s finite space,
with its natural resources and communities, on a just and sustainable
basis for the benefit of humanity.
Does GIS Provide Value to Society?
ArcNews, Summer 2012: King County Documents ROI of GIS
(minimum $776 million net benefit over 18 years, $87 million
in 2010)
http://www.esri.com/news/arcnews/index.html

 GIS operations are maturing – or they should be
 GIS operations manage large capital investments
 GIS operations require large operating budgets
 GIS is a proven technology for effective municipal administration
 GIS operations deliver huge returns on investment
 The ‘Standard of Care’ principle requires municipal administrations
to deploy GIS
 Local agency leaders and managers must deploy GIS for cost-
effective government services (and to comply with the standard of
care)
 Geospatial technology is complex, continues to evolve, and
continues to provide new opportunities
 The management of municipal GIS operations is complex, evolving,
and requires a scientific, professional approach
What is the Business Need?

Is GIS management distinct from other types of municipal
management?
 The management of GIS requires knowledge skills and abilities that set it apart from and
above many other management domains, due to its complexity, importance for effective
services, and integrative role in local government enterprise operations.
 Proposals that GIS operations should be under the supervision of licensed engineers or
surveyors are not supported by the breadth of knowledge domains required for GIS
management.
Knowledge Domains
Management Areas
GIS Survey Engineering IT Project Mgt Geography
GIS Technology X O O
Survey O X O O
Engineering O X O
General IT X X O
PM X O X
Geography X X
Cartography X O X
GIS Science X O
Databases X X
Programming X X
Geospatial Law X
Contracting X O O X X
Governance X X O

The Ah-ha Moment:
GIS operational process maturity (aka the GIS
Capability Maturity Model)
and…
GIS management capability (aka the Geospatial
Management Competency Model)
Can both best be defined against…
A body of geospatial management best practices and
standards, or the GIS Management Body of Knowledge

 Develop the URISA GIS Management Body of Knowledge
(GMBOK)
 Maintain the URISA Geospatial Management Competency
Model (GMCM)
 Maintain the URISA GIS Capability Maturity Model
(GCMM)
 Accredit the capability and maturity of county, city, and
regional GIS operations against the GCMM
 Accredit GIS Management educational programs for
alignment with the URISA GMBOK and GMCM
What will the URISA GIS Management Institute
do?

 Include an advisory council from other geospatial
management professional stakeholders
 Include international stakeholders
 Advance the future certification of GIS Managers by
developing a GIS Managers designation of the GISP in
partnership with GISCI
What will the GMI do with in cooperation with
others?

 URISA developed and launched GISCI
 URISA developed and manages GISCorps
 URISA has 50 years of study, experience & intellectual
capital related to GIS development and management
 URISA has a portfolio of publications and educational
offerings, including the ULA, that can be aligned to
support GIS management
 URISA has a history of 31 years of ESIG awards that
form an initial resource for recognizing GIS
management best practices
 URISA has designated the development of the GIS
Management Institute as a priority initiative
Why URISA?

Who will use the GMI, and why?
Babinski’sTheory of GIS Management: As GIS Operational Maturity Improves,ROI Increases

 GIS Managers – to assess their competency against the GMCM and
GMBOK and plan their professional development
 Organizations with GIS Operations – to assess their capability and
process maturity against peer agencies and by becoming GMI
accredited against the GMBOK via the GCMM
 Geospatial professionals – to assess and align their own practices
against the GMBOK
 GIS management educational programs – to assess and refine their
curriculum by becoming GMI accredited against the GMBOK, GMCM
& GCMM
 GIS management consultants – to assess and refine their practices
against the GMBOK, GMCM & GCMM
 In the future, GIS managers will use GMI products and services to
prepare for achieving a GISP manager designation through GISCI
Who will use the GMI, and why?

How will the GMI Operate?
GMBOK:
GIS Management
Body of Knowledge
Municipal
GIS
Operations
GCMM
Accreditation
GCMM: GIS
Capability
Maturity
Model
URISA
Education
ULA & UMA
GIS
Management
Educational
Program
Accreditation
GISCI
GIS Managers
Certification
Component
GMCM:
Geospatial
Management
Competency
Model
Future:
ROI Services
Other
Accreditation
Benchmarking

 An operational program of URISA
 Possible 501(c)(6) status
 Under the management of a geospatial
management professional
 Broad geospatial advisory council
 After initial development, sustained via GMBOK
subscriptions & GMI accreditation fees
 URISA priority initiative
How will the GMI Operate?

R
U
Now1950 2050
30%
70%
The Development of a Geospatial Society
Global Need and Future Vision
Urban and Regional Information Systems
and the development of society:

Greg Babinski, MA, GISP
URISA President
SUMMIT Chief Editor
www.urisa.org
Finance & Marketing Manager
King County GIS Center
201 South Jackson Street, Suite 706
Seattle, WA 98104
206-263-3753
greg.babinski@kingcounty.gov
www.kingcounty.gov/gis

URISA’s GIS Management Institute

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