Creating a Regional GIS User Group in Northeast Indiana

Creating a Regional GIS Creating a Regional GIS User Group in User Group in

Northeast IndianaNortheast Indiana

Bill Holder, GISPBill Holder, GISP Kosciusko County GIS DirectorKosciusko County GIS Director

History of GIS User Groups in Northern IndianaHistory of GIS User Groups in Northern Indiana

Northwest Indiana GIS Forum Northwest Indiana GIS Forum Successful modelSuccessful model

In existence for 10 + yearsIn existence for 10 + years

In Northeast Indiana many attempts at Regional In Northeast Indiana many attempts at Regional GroupsGroups

MACOG GIS Coordinators MeetingMACOG GIS Coordinators Meeting

ESRI Northern Indiana GIS Users GroupESRI Northern Indiana GIS Users Group

Indiana/Michigan Border GIS GroupIndiana/Michigan Border GIS Group

Schneider Northeast Indiana GIS Users MeetingSchneider Northeast Indiana GIS Users Meeting

Impetus for creationImpetus for creation

Local GIS Coordinator’s Meeting – Nov. 2007Local GIS Coordinator’s Meeting – Nov. 2007

Split up by regions, Northwest, Northeast etc,Split up by regions, Northwest, Northeast etc,

Many attendees from the Northeast/ North Central Many attendees from the Northeast/ North Central area of the Statearea of the State

There was a real interest in meeting regionallyThere was a real interest in meeting regionally

Defining the regionDefining the regionNo scientific method for defining the regionNo scientific method for defining the region

Northwest Indiana GIS Forum RegionNorthwest Indiana GIS Forum Region

If the state was divided into five regions, Northwest, If the state was divided into five regions, Northwest, Northeast, Central, Southeast and SouthwestNortheast, Central, Southeast and Southwest

Doesn’t follow any state designated region, IDHS, INDOT etcDoesn’t follow any state designated region, IDHS, INDOT etc

Area is comprised of 21Area is comprised of 21

CountiesCounties in Northeast Indianain Northeast Indiana

The First MeetingThe First MeetingPerfect time of year in Northern IndianaPerfect time of year in Northern Indiana

Northeast Indiana GIS Users Group met for the Northeast Indiana GIS Users Group met for the first time on January 31first time on January 31st st 2008 in Warsaw2008 in Warsaw

25 to 30 Attendees25 to 30 Attendees

First Meeting TopicsFirst Meeting TopicsIntroductions and description of local projectsIntroductions and description of local projects

Discussion of the User GroupDiscussion of the User GroupWhat are everyone’s expectationsWhat are everyone’s expectations

Membership – Open or closedMembership – Open or closed

A Charter – A Committee was formedA Charter – A Committee was formed

(On Dictionary.com a Charter is defined as: “a document defining the (On Dictionary.com a Charter is defined as: “a document defining the

formal organization of a corporate body; constitution”)formal organization of a corporate body; constitution”)

Statewide Issues – IGIC/GIOStatewide Issues – IGIC/GIOData Sharing - IndianaMapData Sharing - IndianaMap

Statewide Ortho programStatewide Ortho program

Naming the User GroupNaming the User Group

The Northeast Indiana Geospatial The Northeast Indiana Geospatial Information Community (NIGIC) was Information Community (NIGIC) was selected as the name for our group.selected as the name for our group.

The Charter - ObjectivesThe Charter - ObjectivesCreate a forumCreate a forum whereby GIS professionals and others interested in whereby GIS professionals and others interested in geospatial information may network with their peers to exchange ideas, geospatial information may network with their peers to exchange ideas, techniques and experiences; to obtain advice about how geospatial techniques and experiences; to obtain advice about how geospatial information may be used to address the challenges they face; and/or to information may be used to address the challenges they face; and/or to discuss opportunities for joint, inter-agency projects.discuss opportunities for joint, inter-agency projects.Establish a frameworkEstablish a framework in which the various governmental units, academic in which the various governmental units, academic institutions and private organizations of Northeastern Indiana may institutions and private organizations of Northeastern Indiana may cooperate in the investigation, study, discussion and recommendation of cooperate in the investigation, study, discussion and recommendation of improvements in geospatial information management.improvements in geospatial information management.Aid membersAid members in the development of a GIS and of GIS personnel within in the development of a GIS and of GIS personnel within their agencies.their agencies.Provide a meansProvide a means whereby the membership’s opinions on geospatial whereby the membership’s opinions on geospatial issues affecting the Northeastern Indiana region can be presented as a issues affecting the Northeastern Indiana region can be presented as a unified professional voice to State government, to the Indiana Geographic unified professional voice to State government, to the Indiana Geographic Information Officer (GIO) and to the Indiana Geographic Information Information Officer (GIO) and to the Indiana Geographic Information Council (IGIC).Council (IGIC).Support Support the Indiana Geographic Information Council and legislation the Indiana Geographic Information Council and legislation beneficial to the acquisition, improvement, maintenance, use and beneficial to the acquisition, improvement, maintenance, use and distribution of geospatial information in Northeastern Indiana.distribution of geospatial information in Northeastern Indiana.AdvanceAdvance geospatial knowledge and practice through continuing education geospatial knowledge and practice through continuing education of GIS users, elected officials and the general publicof GIS users, elected officials and the general public

The Charter - NotablesThe Charter - NotablesMembership is open to all interested Membership is open to all interested individuals.individuals.

Members are expressly disallowed from the Members are expressly disallowed from the promotion of their for-profit products and/or promotion of their for-profit products and/or services at a meeting unless they are doing so services at a meeting unless they are doing so at the request of the Group or in response to a at the request of the Group or in response to a direct question asked during a meeting. direct question asked during a meeting.

The Officers shall consist of a President, a The Officers shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, and a Secretary.Vice-President, and a Secretary.

The group will hold quarterly meetingsThe group will hold quarterly meetings

Charter was approved at July 2008 MeetingCharter was approved at July 2008 Meeting

Election of OfficersElection of OfficersElected officers at the October 2008 Elected officers at the October 2008 meetingmeeting

President – Dave Estes – Allen CountyPresident – Dave Estes – Allen County

Vice President – Mike SnellingVice President – Mike Snelling

Secretary – Chasity SandySecretary – Chasity Sandy

Sample of AttendeesSample of Attendees

Allen CountyAllen CountyCity of Fort WayneCity of Fort WayneDekalb County Dekalb County City of ButlerCity of ButlerNortheastern REMCNortheastern REMCCity of ElkhartCity of ElkhartElkhart CountyElkhart CountyCity of GoshenCity of GoshenCity of MishawakaCity of MishawakaCity of Warsaw City of Warsaw Elkhart CountyElkhart CountyCity of KendallvilleCity of KendallvilleNoble CountyNoble County

Wells County Wells County Huntington CountyHuntington CountyCity of AuburnCity of AuburnKosciusko CountyKosciusko CountyAdams CountyAdams CountyThe Schneider CorporationThe Schneider CorporationESRI ESRI Indiana GIOIndiana GIOWabash CountyWabash CountyWhitley CountyWhitley CountySteuben CountySteuben CountyLagrange CountyLagrange County

Attendee GoalsAttendee Goals

Group was began by a group of City/County usersGroup was began by a group of City/County users

Utilities – REMC’s, NIPSCO etc.Utilities – REMC’s, NIPSCO etc.Colleges and Universities – IUSB, IPFW, Taylor, Trine Colleges and Universities – IUSB, IPFW, Taylor, Trine etc.etc.Other City/County users in regionOther City/County users in regionState Government – GIS Users in Northeast IndianaState Government – GIS Users in Northeast IndianaFederal Government – GIS Users in Northeast IndianaFederal Government – GIS Users in Northeast IndianaPrivate Sector – GIS Service Providers, Engineering Private Sector – GIS Service Providers, Engineering Firms etcFirms etcGIS enthusiastsGIS enthusiasts

Attendee GoalsAttendee Goals

Group was began by a group of City/County usersGroup was began by a group of City/County users

Utilities – REMC’s, NIPSCO etc.Utilities – REMC’s, NIPSCO etc.Colleges and Universities – IUSB, IPFW, Taylor, Trine Colleges and Universities – IUSB, IPFW, Taylor, Trine etc.etc.Other City/County users in regionOther City/County users in regionState Government – GIS Users in Northeast IndianaState Government – GIS Users in Northeast IndianaFederal Government – GIS Users in Northeast IndianaFederal Government – GIS Users in Northeast IndianaPrivate Sector – GIS Service Providers, Engineering Private Sector – GIS Service Providers, Engineering Firms etcFirms etcGIS enthusiastsGIS enthusiasts

Meeting CompositionMeeting Composition

NIGIC SpeakersNIGIC SpeakersKevin Holle – City of Fort Wayne Imprevious Kevin Holle – City of Fort Wayne Imprevious Surface ProjectSurface Project

Tom Brenneman – ESRI – ArcGIS Server and Tom Brenneman – ESRI – ArcGIS Server and ArcGIS Desktop TopicsArcGIS Desktop Topics

Jim Sparks – Indiana GIO – Data Sharing Jim Sparks – Indiana GIO – Data Sharing DiscussionDiscussion

Rick Kiersey – City of Kendallville – Detailed Rick Kiersey – City of Kendallville – Detailed Cemetery Mapping ProjectCemetery Mapping Project

Invitation to Next MeetingInvitation to Next Meeting

April 30April 30thth 2009 2009

Kosciusko County Justice BuildingKosciusko County Justice Building

121 N Lake St121 N Lake St

Warsaw, Indiana Warsaw, Indiana

Thank YouThank You

QuestionsQuestions