Abstract
 Gaining Support for GIS in a Rural Environment Track: State and Local Government Author(s): Harry Beatty Benefits of GIS might be readily apparent in urban areas, but what about areas with smaller populations? The County of Kauai serves a population base of approximately 60,000 people. Until very recently, many county-wide systems (not just GIS) have been primarily paper-based. Many people are reluctant to move away from familiar systems to computer-based alternatives. In addition, it has been difficult to convince decision makers that GIS is a worthwhile investment, as they typically tend to think of GIS as a tool for urban planners in very large cities. However, we have successfully implemented some small GIS applications, and as we build momentum, it's exciting to see that many people around the county are enthusiastic about this new technology. This paper will examine some of the issues that we have faced and offer suggestions to those in similar situations. Harry Beatty County of Kauai IT 4444 Rice St Lihue , HI 96766 US Phone: 808-241-4412 E-mail: hbeatty@kauai.hawaii.gov |
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