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The following is from the agenda of the MetroGIS Policy Board meeting on October 27, 1999.
TO: Policy Board
SUBJECT: MetroGIS Benefits Study Results
INTRODUCTION
Dr. William Craig, with the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs at the U of M, will present the findings of
his MetroGIS Benefits Study at the Board’s October 27th meeting. He and his assistant David Bitner presented their
initial findings at the MN GIS/LIS Conference on October 6th. The Oct. 6th presentation is attached.
The recommendations offered in Agenda Item 5a(4) [Fair-Share Financial Model and Organizational Structure
Project] assume the Policy Board will concur with Dr. Craig’s finding that there is significant support for
continuing to facilitate and coordinate activities across the metro area that promote data sharing.
This study, like MetroGIS's Fair-Share Financial Model and
Organizational Structure Project, was financed with a grant from the USGS in cooperation with the National Spatial
Data Infrastructure (NSDI) project. This funding was through the NSDI Benefit Grants program and in the amount of
$48,000.
BACKGROUND
Dr. Craig’s study was comprised of two major components. The first involved a series of interviews with
recipients of shared data. The list of interview candidates was generated from three sources: licensees of the Regional
Street Centerline Dataset, data sharing logs maintained by each of the seven counties, and similar logs maintained by
the Metropolitan Council. These logs were required as a condition of the GIS Data and Cost Sharing Agreements between
the Metropolitan Council and each of the seven counties. The interview questions sought feedback about satisfaction
with data that are being shared, obstacles obtaining or using these data, how recipients are using the data, and what
they have been able to accomplish as a result of having access to this data.
The second component of the study involved a survey mailed to 150+ persons who have or are participating on a
MetroGIS workgroup, team, the Coordinating Committee and/or the Policy Board. As of this writing, 87 responses had been
received. This survey contained questions designed to measure both the importance of the functions that have been
endorsed by the MetroGIS Policy Board and whether MetroGIS should invest its resources in each of these functions. The
study results, as of this writing, indicate there is significant support to continue MetroGIS’ coordination and
facilitation activities. Specific findings are described in the attached slides. These preliminary results will be
further analyzed to support preparation of the proposed Business Plan (Agenda Item 5a[4]).
Dr. Craig’s survey also comprises the MetroGIS Participant Satisfaction Survey for 1999. The Policy Board
has requested that the Coordinating Committee undertake a satisfaction survey on an annual basis.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Policy Board acknowledge the preliminary findings of the MetroGIS Benefits Study and provide
direction for further analysis that should be undertaken to better understand the meaning of the information received.
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