Make GIS a Priority

D'Anne Hammond
GIS Specialist

Have you set your priorities for the next year? Most City Administrators have a list of priorities that will consume the bulk of their time in the coming months. When it’s time to take potable water samples, it’s a priority. When it’s time to crack-seal the streets, it’s a priority. When it’s time to rewrite the City’s Planning documents, it’s a priority. Priorities rule in government actions and inactions. Those who have successfully implemented GIS systems, however large or small, made it a priority at some point.

The majority of tasks and projects that have been completed in their entirety were, at some point, listed as a priority. That’s what it takes to make sure a project doesn’t get stalled or fall by the wayside. I mean, really, when you’re hungry you eat right? Hunger makes food a priority.

Most projects also had a plan for when and how to address the priority. Part of the plan usually includes how to use the final product or procedure...after all, why do it if it’s meaningless in the context of future operations? End results matter. Water sampling gives us test results. Crack sealing results in extended life of pavement surfaces. Planning documents will guide how the city handles future growth. And food alleviates hunger so you can continue what you’re doing without falling down.

Sometimes this happens in reverse, a neat solution presents itself and the applicability is realized afterward. Sometimes a priority is set but the plan reveals that it’s unrealistic. Most municipal projects, whether information-based or ground-based, come about through the decision making process...

1. a need is identified (or a mandate passed down),
2. a priority to address the need is established,
3. a plan is developed to pursue the right solution, and
4. ultimately the plan is carried out.

So what makes it to the top of the priority list? Aside from addressing the imposition of mandates, often it’s the most doable projects that make it to the top of the priority list– the projects that get the most done for the least cost. Sadly, GIS is expensive. And if you want an out-of-the-box solution, it’s very expensive.

So what's the bottom line? Meet your mandates more easily and get more work done with the time you saved. That’s quite a pay out for a simple decision to make GIS a priority. Make it a priority even if you start with just one or two projects, you will not be sorry!

You need it, let's do it!
Contact us so we can help you decide where to start.