Paper Using Local Colleges and Universities to Strengthen Municipal GIS Systems

Author: Brad Pierce
Organization: City of Chico

P O Box 3420
Chico, CA 95927
USA

Phone: 530 895-4851
Fax: 530 895-4726
bpierce@ci.chico.ca.us

The City of Chico is a distinctive community with over 90,000 people in the urban area covering 45 square miles, making it the second largest California city north of Sacramento. Located within the City is California State University, Chico, with its Geographical Information Center. The Center has played the role of mentor, first developing the original database from City records, then guiding the program in its first 18 months, and now remains an important source of expertise. Other benefits of this partnership to the City include a source for capable consultant work for complicated projects, expertise in the latest GIS developments, and a source of reliable interns.