A geographic information system (GIS) captures, manages, and presents all types of geographical data. GIS is an especially useful tool for local governments because it allows information to be tied to different locations in the community. When the information is represented spatially, it can open the door for seeing patterns and relationships that can be hard to discern when data is simply in spreadsheets or folders.   

GIS can serve many purposes for local governments looking to make data-driven decisions, such as benchmarking and strategic planning. GIS can also be used to increase local government transparency, i.e., local governments now use GIS to track 311 calls and make these maps publicly available. Some communities are even using GIS to increase citizen engagement.

Here are some documents to get you started on incorporating GIS into your local government. These are just a sample of the rich resourses on the Knowledge Network, so if you are looking for something more specific, ask a question, comment below, or search for additional documents.

If your local government has been using GIS, submit a case study of your work to inspire other local governments and show them what is possible when they use GIS.

 

 

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