Vermont’s Statewide Property Mapping Project developed a complete and uniform digital parcel dataset for each of the state’s 255 municipalities. As the most frequently accessed spatial data in Vermont, the dataset supports many uses including real property transactions and economic development, the identification of suitable sites for businesses or alternative energy facilities, visualizing financially distressed areas, estimating forest fragmentation, aiding stormwater management, and stopping Medicaid fraud, all while reducing the need to drive to town offices to learn who owns property in the state.

Elizabeth “Beth” Curley is the Technical Lead on the NYS GIS Platforms team responsible for the provisioning of GIS web services. The ShareGIS initiative frees the entire GIS stakeholder community from the burdens and pitfalls of downloading and redundant storage of GIS data. Beth leads the logging and reporting of the services consumption providing ongoing documentation of the importance of the NYS spatial data infrastructure. Logs enlighten the data programs on the characteristics of our customers including software used, frequency of use and popularity of various services. These logs provide metrics showing the use and adoption of the data. 

Dennis Pedersen, director of STS-GIS Services for the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration has been working with the United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) to collect, process and disseminate accurate lidar data across the state. Dennis’ efforts have led not only to the collection of accurate data, but also to the application of that data for critical issues affecting Tennessee. Agencies at all levels of government are using the data to mitigate floods and wildfires, reclaim abandoned mountaintop coal mines, manage stormwater systems and improve emergency response. Through his vision of teamwork, he has united stakeholders across Tennessee and the country for a common cause—the well-being of the state’s residents, both now and in the future.

To be considered for a Geospatial Excellence Award, candidates must meet at least three of the following:

• Creates a sustainable partnership or initiative that returns significant benefit from geospatial technology across multiple organizations

• Documents measured improvement in implementing a state or national spatial data infrastructure

• Advances the ‘create it once, use it a bunch’ credo for efficiently delivering valued geospatial data and services across a broad enterprise of users

• Benefits the whole nation through sharing of innovation or establishment of best practices

• Champions the involvement of all state data infrastructure or national data infrastructure stakeholders

• Promotes NSGIC’s goal of efficient and effective government through increased, prudent adoption of geospatial technologies

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