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State of North Dakota - Information Technology Dept

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North Dakota is developing a GIS "Hub" for storing, browsing and distributing state GIS data. The Hub will be used primarily by State agencies; counties, cities, and the general public will also have access. The Hub should be fully operational in August 2002.

Business Problem

Multiple copies of spatial data are stored in different state agencies and only word of mouth establishes who is the originator and maintainer of the data. Much wasted time is spent trying to find the latest version of the data. Data is in different formats, files, and projections. Typically, most State agencies are not able to provide access to GIS data to all of their employees, due to complexity and cost of professional GIS software. As individual state agencies develop their own GIS systems, they will be forced to create redundancies in data holdings, hardware, storage, software and administration needs.

The ND Hub provides a service to the State agencies, who can still develop their GIS systems, but leverage the infrastructure provided by the ND Hub. The ND Hub will provide one-stop-shopping for the latest data, define standards and stewards of data, provide a seamless data coverage, and be housed in an infrastructure that provides adequate scalability, storage, backup and recovery. The Web component of the Hub will allow expanded use of GIS in State agencies, using tools that are free and easier to use.

Technology Implemented

Database: ArcSDE 8.2, Solaris 2.8, Oracle 8.1.7.

Web: ArcIMS 4.0, Redhat Linux 7.2, Websphere 4.0, Windows 2000 Server.

Development Team Biography

The development of the Hub is very much user-driven in a team environment. Multiple people and organizations are contributing to the development of the North Dakota Hub:

Funding - ND State Legislature, FEMA through the ND Division of Emergency Management

Planning & Design - ND GIS Technical Committee (GISTC), ND Information Technology Department (ITD), SchlumbergerSema

Development & Deployment - ND GISTC, ND ITD. The ND GISTC drives the design and functionality, the ND ITD provides the resources, infrastructure and implementation.