New York State Office of Cyber Security
Geographic Information Systems Clearinghouse
GIS Partnership Summary
New York City's GIS Coordination Program
2001
GIS Partnership Award Winner
Partnership Purpose and Goal
The New York City GIS Coordination Program has been spearheaded by the NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications. The goal of DoITT's program was to develop an integrated approach to the development, distribution, and use of data in New York City Government. A major portion of this partnership includes the development of the GIS Utility project, which creates a central database (also referred to as a spatial data warehouse) for key spatial data layers that would be of use to all City agencies and the public. The GIS Utility integrates important GIS layers with business critical databases from different City agencies. This allows agencies to tie their business data to GIS base layers to perform powerful analyses efficiently, using the most current and relevant data available in the City. The effectiveness of the GIS Utility is directly related to the type and amount of data in the system. Given this, the success of the project success depended heavily on the cooperation and coordination of nearly every agency in New York City.
However, this partnership is more than just the creation of GIS. It is about the development of a collaborative environment, previously unknown in New York City as well as many, if not most, municipalities in the United States. DoITT's coordination efforts have gone beyond city borders to include the development of an I-Team for the entire metropolitan region. The I-Team, building on NYC's collaborative environment, is striving to develop a coordinated, regional approach to the creation and distribution of GIS data. The I-Team in the NYC region is just the beginning of a national approach to coordinating GIS data development.
Participants and Resource Contributions
- NYC DOITT (provided funding and act as lead agency)
- NYC Department of Environmental Protection (provided funding)
- NYC Department of Design and Construction (provided funding)
- Hunter College - CARSI Lab
- NYC Department of Planning
- NYC Fire Department
- NYC Police Department
- NYC Mayors Office of Operations
- NYC Office of Management and Budget
- NYC Department of Finance
- NYC Housing Preservation and Development
- Landmark Preservation
- Boroughs Presidents' Offices
- Plan Graphics, Inc.
Time Frame
Date Partnership Began: The concept was developed in 1991. The official GIS Utility project began June 2000 when the contract was awarded.
Completion Date: Portions have been completed, but the entire GIS Utility project will be finished sometime 2002. However, Coordination between NYC agencies should continue indefinitely.
Deliverables
Internet Mapping Applications for NYC Emergency Management Office
NYC's Everyone Map - an Intranet based mapping application for all NYC Agencies
Spatial Data Warehouse to serve the numerous data layers
Digital Ortho Imagery
Various vector data products
Planimetric maps
Brief Summary of Partnership
New York City, like many government entities, has had a history of parochial approaches to GIS. In the 1990s, DoITT, in particular Al Leidner, former GIS Director, was made responsible for citywide GIS coordination. DoITT was also responsible for the creation of an integrated citywide base map and development of a coordinated approach to using GIS. Al Leidner's unobtrusive and inclusive approach to working with GIS leaders in city agencies has led to the establishment of working relationships heretofore unseen in city GIS. In achieving this, he, as DoITT's former GIS Director, has consistently and effectively coordinated GIS activities for NYC agencies including the development of digital orthoimagery and planimetric maps for the entire City and the eventual GIS Utility. In addition, the development of the GIS Utility has fostered an unprecedented working relationship between New York City Agencies, academia and the private sector. The partnership for this project was built over many years of persistence, follow-up and good communication. The project's current success is the best measure for the effectiveness of this partnership.
An additional benefit of this partnership has been DoITT's push for New York City's recent membership in the NYSGIS Data Sharing Cooperative and development of an I-Team for the metropolitan NYC region which has brought together 3 states, city government, federal agencies, academia and the private sector.On September 11, 2001, the benefits of this partnership came to full fruition as multitudes of GIS professionals from city government, academia, and the private sector came forth to work around the clock under DoITT's direction to build a cohesive GIS operation from scratch and provide desperately needed GIS support to rescue and recovery efforts. Anyone who has seen the site, heard the stories of the use of GIS from the fire fighters and the rescue workers, and seen the GIS operation that was literally brought together overnight will truly know the benefits that partnership can bring to solving problems.
Contact Information
Marsha D. Kaunitz
Director, Citywide Geographic Information Systems
NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications
59 Maiden Lane, 33rd Floor
New York, NY 10038
Phone: (212) 232-1114
Fax: (212) 232-1180
E-mail: mkaunitz@doitt.nyc.gov