GOAL:
Provide Geographic Information System (GIS) services and data to all levels of government and the private sector.

OBJECTIVES:
Complete conversion of existing and new natural resource and related environmental data to an automated format for use in a distributed geographic information system.

STATUS & TRENDS:
Government agencies from the local to federal levels increasingly are using GIS as primary information management and decision support systems. GIS provides a technology by which it is possible to automate, integrate, and assess numerous types of data b ased on their locations and physical characteristics. DEP and cooperating state and federal agencies have made large investments in the production of GIS data bases and are making ongoing commitments to efficiently expand the use of GIS technology. In t he future the GIS technology will become more available to the private/ public sector.

STRATEGIES:

1. Continue the conversion of existing natural resource, environmental and related inventories to a GIS format.
2. Conduct research into emerging GIS and related technologies that will provide a multi-media approach to management and use of environmental information.
3. Implement a distributed GIS that effectively puts information into the hands of technical staff, managers and decision makers.
4. Participate in efforts to coordinate GIS data development and adoption of GIS standards among State and other governmental organizations.
5. Develop ongoing GIS technical support and training programs to guarantee a high level of technical expertise within DEP.
6. Investigate cost recovery mechanisms for data distributed through the GIS.