Abstract

A Regional GIS Approach in Northern Nevada
Track: State and Local Government
Authors: Eric Schmidt

In July 2011, Douglas County, NV took on the role of providing centralized GIS
services for three of its neighboring Nevada counties. This arrangement offers immediate economies of scale for everyone and avoids duplication of services at a time when public budgets are shrinking on a yearly basis.

GIS lends itself to a regional approach. However, such an arrangement is not without its inherent challenges. Each of the four participants have their own internal reasons for participating, and each has their own priorities for GIS. The vision is to put GIS data and spatial tools directly into the hands of each county's staff to better facilitate their access answers in real time. For most this will offer a positive paradigm shift in the way they do business.

The first of its kind in Nevada, this example of regionalized GIS in local government is a potentially important case- study.