GIS.Alabama.gov

In Alabama we have been in progress with a GIS Executive Council. So far we have established a strategic plan, website, and committee portal.

My office, the ISD - Geospatial Office, has been coordinating and designing the first page of the site which supports the Advisory Committee and member forums hosted by the Alabama Department on Higher Education. The page is intended to act as a landing page that provides top level information, links, and connectivity to other State applications and services.

The Advisory Committee is composed of representatives from many state agencies that have interests in GIS and we meet monthly do carry on the agenda of the Strategic Plan and Council. There is much work under way and it is difficult to carry consistency and maintain a strong volunteer effort, but thus far we have had success.

The Committee has added 4 Subcommittees (Imagery and Data Standards combined) to focus on key topics and issues and to proceed with the Strategic Plan deadlines. These subcommittees help to maintain a healthy diversity in the leadership and to promote ideas and initiatives from the committee members and stakeholders.

This month we will complete 5 stakeholder workshops that are a part of the FGDC Fifty States Initiatives intended to aid the state in further development of it's strategic plan and to generate community support and feedback into the planning process.

We will come together as a group at the Rocket City Geospatial Conference where we will introduce the Committees and their work to the larger GIS professional community in Alabama.

A group of Alabama GIS Professionals will also have their annual meeting for the Alabama Chapter of URISA.

The conference is November 16 and 17 in Huntsville Alabama and it should be an excellent event.