New Jersey Makes Environmental Data and GIS More Accessible Through the Environmental Data Exchange

Author: Marla R. Chassels
Organization: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

PO Box 428
401 E. State Street, First Floor
Trenton, NJ 08002
USA

Phone: 609 633-1393
Fax: 609 292-7900
mchassel@gis.dep.state.nj.us

The Environmental Data Exchange (ENDEX) Clearinghouse of New Jersey is an Internet-based "one-stop shopping" forum for data sharing, data cataloging, and integrated GIS analysis for New Jersey's environmental community. Coordinated through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), ENDEX partners several divisions at the NJDEP with outside organizations to provide a State-wide resource for users of environmental information.

ENDEX is designed to be as user-friendly as possible, making environmental data and GIS more accessible to the public and casual users. Key ENDEX components are the digital library, data set registry, and analysis templates. The digital library includes documents such as DEP studies, reports, and academic theses. The data set registry (for spatial and nonspatial data) allows individuals and organizations to self-register data sets. The analysis templates encompass GIS mapping and analysis tools, addressing information retrieval needs. Search functions enable users to locate and retrieve data registered in any of the three components.

ENDEX demonstrates to the public and to other environmental agencies how open information access and data sharing on the Internet can improve effectiveness and accelerate the transition to community-based environmental management.