Workshop - January 24, 2008
Meeting Shared Geospatial Needs Beyond Data

Introduction
The implementing of sustainable solutions to shared application needs of organizations that serve the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area was designated as the highest priority for MetroGIS’s efforts in the 2008-2011 MetroGIS Business Plan, adopted by the MetroGIS Policy Board on October 17, 2007.  

A workshop hosted on January 24, 2008 was designed to set the framework for taking tangible action to address this top priority need.  And, in so doing, leverage resources to achieve efficiencies and the creation of public value not otherwise possible.

Method
31 individuals, with a variety of desired expertise related to geospatial application and representing diverse organization and professional perspectives, accepted invitations to participate.  Each was asked to participate from the depth of their knowledge, unshackled from there current organizational perspective.

A skilled team of facilitators from PlanGraphics, Inc ., lead the participants through a multi-part program of brainstorming and open discussions to collectively define:

1. The types or levels of sharing, beyond solutions to common geospatial data needs, which are appropriate for MetroGIS to assume leadership to achieve. 
2. For those levels of cooperation deemed appropriate for MetroGIS’s efforts and resources, the participants will be asked to define characteristics of desired collaborative activities and, to the extent possible, actual projects. 

Timeline
Planning for the January workshop (Phase I of the process to define a strategy to address shared application needs) began in November 2007, immediately following the Policy Board’s adoption of the 2008-2011 MetroGIS Business Plan, which called for a scope expansion to expand solutions to shared information needs to include applications.  The results of the January workshop provided much of the substance for the action taken by the Policy Board at its April 23, 2008 meeting.

Conclusions and Action Taken               
1. The action taken by the MetroGIS Policy Board on April 23, 2008 was heavily influenced by the results of the January 24, 2008 forum.  The main sections of the report are as follow:

Workshop Summary Report and Process to Refine Recommendations:

• Appendix B - Program Transition Slides
• Appendix C - Practical Experiences (slides)
• Dakota & Scott County GIS Collaborative Efforts
• DNR - Sharing Infrastructure
• MnDOT - Payback from Use of Services and Templates
• OpenMNND Project - A MN and ND Collaborative
• Geocoding Web Service - Metro Mosquito Control District
• LOGIS
• Appendix D - Workshop Evaluation Results
• Appendix G - Recorder Notes
• Appendix H - Post Workshop Participant Preference Survey

2. See the Meeting Agenda Report that was presented to the Policy Board for context for the specific next steps approved by the Board. 

3. See Item 5a of the approved meeting summary for the Board’s actual action.

Background Reading Materials
Imagining Possibilities: The Next Frontier for Geographic Information Technology Summary Report for the June 1, 2006, Forum that was hosted by MetroGIS.
Context: A number of realities for the next 3-5 years were identified via this forum to help MetroGIS leadership prepare for updating the 2003-2005 MetroGIS Business Plan. These ideas/realities helped create a mind set that MetroGIS must address needs beyond data to remain relevant to stakeholder needs, for which policy was adopted, but the actual suggestions are more well suited to consideration at the Jan 24th Forum rather than the Business Plan process.

Section II Chapter 3 of the 2008-2011 MetroGIS Business Plan: Expand Endorsed Regional Solutions (to Shared Needs) to include Support and Development of Application Services. (beginning on page 31)
Context: This section of the Business Plan identifies challenges, strategies and tactics related to pursuing solutions to shared geospatial needs that go beyond data. In large part, these topics were identified at the MetroGIS Strategic Directions Workshop held February 8, 2007, which launched the Business Plan update process. Several participants from that workshop have also been invited to participate in the January 24, 2008, Forum.

MetroGIS Informational Brochure
Context: General overview of benefits that that have been achieved through collaboration to address shared geospatial needs.

US DOI Geospatial Services Model

Minnesota Geographic Information System Computerized Data And Application Resource Sharing System
Context: This conceptual design document describes a system of computerized data and application resource sharing within the State of Minnesota Geographic Information System (GIS) community. The envisioned system would promote interoperability among data and application providers, reducing long-term costs in data resource and software application development for the participants.
The document is intended to provide a framework for investment in the proposed system. As a conceptual design, it avoids technical specifications (e.g. hardware and software) and administrative implementation details, except where obvious industry or de facto standards present themselves.

White Papers
ESRI Technology and INSPIRE [PDF]
Date: September 2007
Subject: This document describes how ESRI GIS software products and solutions align with the Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE) vision for European geospatial information sharing and more specifically how they provide a technical foundation for activating that vision.

Developing and Deploying an Integrated Geoenabled SOA Business Solution: A Case Study [PDF]
Date: June 2007
Subject: In this case study, multiple disparate information systems and heritage data sources were integrated to deliver a flexible business solution using a service-oriented approach. Specifically, standards-based SOA-enabling technologies and design principles were used to integrate GIS spatial analysis and visualization services, along with other business information systems, in a Web-based, service-oriented business application environment.

Geospatial Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) [PDF-4.48 MB, 83 pages]
Date: June 2007
Subject: This white paper describes the basic components that support a geospatial SOA in a vendor-neutral framework and then describes how ESRI components fit into this framework.

ESRI-Supported Open Geospatial Consortium, Inc., and ISO Standards [PDF-60.7 KB, 10 pages]
Date: June 2007

Support