Build Effective Land Management Through GIS
Establish whether your tribe should implement or expand a geographic information system for the widest benefit across all tribal departments.
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Contributors
- Tim Krohn, Land Information Manager, Fond du Lac Reservation
- Evaristo Cruz, Assistant Director, Community Development, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo
- Levi Keesecker, Ph.D., Principal Environmental Scientist, E Squared Environmental Consulting
- Beckie Howell, GIS Director, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
- Joseph Robertson, PhD, CEO/Chief Data Scientist, Mato Ohitika Analytics LLC
- Anne Taylor, Federal Account Manager, Esri
- Volker Mell, GIS Analyst, The James Hutton Institute
- Garet Couch, GISP, President Board of Directors National Tribal Geographic Information Support Center
- Letisha Couch, GISP, Coordinator, National Tribal Geographic Information Support Center
- Shelly Knight, GISP, GIS Manager, Pechanga Indian Reservation
- GIS technology is not used effectively, with only 34% of tribes using a centralized GIS service to the benefit of all tribal departments.
- The tribe's GIS knowledge resides with the GIS manager. If that person leaves, the workflows that support GIS are at risk of foundering.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- Quickly establish the value of tribal GIS. A successful tribal GIS program must convince both department heads and tribal leadership of its value. Department heads want efficiencies in their workflows and tribal leadership want stability for their long-term initiatives. Such a program can take two to three years to build, but using Info-Tech’s methodology you will establish the value of the GIS program at the planning stage.
Impact and Result
- Use Info-Tech's maturity model tool to develop a roadmap to centralizing the GIS department.
- Clearly demonstrate how the IT department can support the GIS unit with an understanding of their specific needs.
- Calculate the potential ROI for a capable GIS office under the IT department.
- Use the calculated benefits of a well-designed GIS program to prepare for funding and future stability.
Start here – read the Executive Brief
Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why you should expand or implement a geographic information system (GIS) for land management, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand how we can support you in completing this project.
1. Get initial planning support
Assess the current and target-level maturity of your GIS and prepare a project proposal for leadership.
2. Define and state requirements
Use requirements gathering to inform the GIS design and calculate a detailed ROI for future funding opportunities.
Guided Implementations
This guided implementation is a seven call advisory process.
Guided Implementation #1 - Get initial planning support
Call #1 - Define the current and target state.
Call #2 - Document your mission and goals.
Call #3 - Perform a benefits analysis and complete the project proposal.
Guided Implementation #2 - Define and state requirements
Call #1 - Prepare for a requirements gathering.
Call #2 - Gather information on the information products.
Call #3 - Determine the data and system requirements.
Call #4 - Calculate an ROI and prepare the business case.
Book Your Workshop
Onsite workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost onsite delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.
Module 1: Assess and Define the Target Maturity
The Purpose
- Identify and align with key internal stakeholders.
- Review the maturity levels for the current state.
- Review the target state criteria and goals.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Clear understanding of the current state of GIS.
- Clear understanding of the criteria and processes to reach the proposed target state
Activities
Outputs
Perform the GIS maturity assessment
- Assessed current state of the GIS
Facilitate a discussion and create consensus among the GIS and IT staff on where the organization should start
- Consensus on the target state objective
Document your current and target states in the project proposal
- Record of the current and target state assessment and decision
Module 2: Consider the Strategic Purpose
The Purpose
- Review your current and target states and discuss possible goals for your land management project.
- Discuss the values and activities of the tribe and align them with the goals of the GIS program.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Alignment of the GIS program with the tribe's values.
- Alignment of the GIS program’s goals with the tribal activities.
Activities
Outputs
Draft the mission and goals for your GIS program
- Clear mission and goals for the GIS project
Document the mission statement in the project proposal
- Documented purpose of the project
Module 3: Perform Benefits Analysis
The Purpose
- Brainstorm the various benefits of GIS to the tribe.
- Estimate the costs to reach your desired target state.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Estimated benefits and costs of implementing the GIS.
Activities
Outputs
Analyze the preliminary GIS project financials
- Preliminary estimates of cost and benefits of implementing the GIS program
Document the financials in the project proposal
- Documented financial considerations
Module 4: Present a Project Proposal
The Purpose
- Review the components of the project proposal with focus on the executive summary.
- Discuss the risks associated with the project.
- Discuss the strategy for presenting the project proposal.
Key Benefits Achieved
- A well-considered project proposal.
- Support from leadership to continue with requirements gathering.
Activities
Outputs
Complete the project proposal
- Completed project proposal
Present your project proposal to leadership and gain support for a tribe-wide requirements gathering
- Presentation to leadership
Module 5: Conduct Requirements Gathering
The Purpose
- Review the objective of an information product.
- Discuss the procedure of the requirements gathering.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Clear assessment of the tribe's needs for GIS.
Activities
Outputs
Organize and rehearse the requirements gathering
- Confidence in conducting the requirements gathering
Schedule the attendance of the relevant departments
- Preparation for the requirements gathering
Conduct the tribe-wide requirements gathering
- Knowledge of what the tribe needs from GIS
Module 6: Describe the Information Products
The Purpose
- Review the components of the Information Product Profile (IPP).
- Discuss what the IPP can and cannot provide.
Key Benefits Achieved
- A clear m
ethod for designing the GIS use cases.
Activities
Outputs
Contact each person requesting an information product
- Ownership of each information product
Complete the summary and description sections of the IPP with each requesting individual
- A clear description of each information product
Module 7: Consider the Data Requirements
The Purpose
- Review the distinction between spatial and non-spatial data.
- Discuss the plan of sourcing the required data.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Defined data requirements for the GIS program.
Activities
Outputs
Complete the data requirements section of the IPPs
- Defined data requirements
Estimate the costs of obtaining the data
- Defined data costs
Enter the details on the data sets into the Requirements Inventory
- List of data requirements
Module 8: Determine System Requirements
The Purpose
- Review the scope of the blueprint on system requirements.
- Discuss the processing requirements of the GIS.
- Discuss the Requirements Inventory.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Defined system requirements.
Activities
Outputs
Complete the system requirements section of the IPPs
- Defined system requirements by information product
Conduct a system requirements gathering
- Defined system requirements for the program
Module 9: Calculate an ROI
The Purpose
- Review the costs and benefits of each information product.
- Prioritize the information products according to cost, benefits, and strategic alignment.
Key Benefits Achieved
- Finalized project documented in a project proposal.
Activities
Outputs
Update the ROI Calculator
- Updated ROI for the program
Prepare the project proposal for funding
- Project proposal ready for funding
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