Solving the GIS Dilemma

Prior to the rush of residential development, paper maps and drawings were adequate for the management of municipal systems. Now, digital data is capable of being created, stored, processed and analyzed by computers and software programs, replacing those paper resources. This new digital source has exponentially expanded the ability to analyze data rapidly in new and different ways. Results that took days to derive in the past can now be obtained almost instantly.

While technological advancement has become a priority in our society, and while GPS and GIS data, and remote satellite imagery are now available for widespread public access and use, a new concern exists: the need for new skills for operators. The capabilities that technology has created over the past 20 years surpass the experience level of many personnel working at the county and municipal level. While established governments in major urban areas can support the salaries of individuals specifically educated and trained in the skills required for these tasks, many developing counties lack the financial and organizational resources to hire personnel dedicated to the development and establishment of GIS. The rapid development and complexity of these new technologies has created a gap-vast amounts of precise information are now available, but end users lack the technical ability to transform it for practical applications.