Creating a Regional GIS
User Group in
Northeast Indiana
Bill Holder, GISP
Kosciusko County GIS Director
History of GIS User Groups in Northern Indiana
Northwest Indiana GIS Forum
Successful model
In existence for 10 + years
In Northeast Indiana many attempts at Regional
Groups
MACOG GIS Coordinators Meeting
ESRI Northern Indiana GIS Users Group
Indiana/Michigan Border GIS Group
Schneider Northeast Indiana GIS Users Meeting
Impetus for creation
Local GIS Coordinator’s Meeting – Nov. 2007
Split up by regions, Northwest, Northeast etc,
Many attendees from the Northeast/ North Central
area of the State
There was a real interest in meeting regionally
Defining the region
No scientific method for defining the region
Northwest Indiana GIS Forum Region
If the state was divided into five regions, Northwest,
Northeast, Central, Southeast and Southwest
Doesn’t follow any state designated region, IDHS, INDOT etc
Area is comprised of 21
Counties in Northeast Indiana
The First Meeting
Perfect time of year in Northern Indiana
Northeast Indiana GIS Users Group met for the
first time on January 31st 2008 in Warsaw
25 to 30 Attendees
First Meeting Topics
Introductions and description of local projects
Discussion of the User Group
What are everyone’s expectations
Membership – Open or closed
A Charter – A Committee was formed
(On Dictionary.com a Charter is defined as: “a document defining the
formal organization of a corporate body; constitution”)
Statewide Issues – IGIC/GIO
Data Sharing - IndianaMap
Statewide Ortho program
Naming the User Group
The Northeast Indiana Geospatial
Information Community (NIGIC) was
selected as the name for our group.
The Charter - Objectives
Create a forum whereby GIS professionals and others interested in
geospatial information may network with their peers to exchange ideas,
techniques and experiences; to obtain advice about how geospatial
information may be used to address the challenges they face; and/or to
discuss opportunities for joint, inter-agency projects.
Establish a framework in which the various governmental units, academic
institutions and private organizations of Northeastern Indiana may
cooperate in the investigation, study, discussion and recommendation of
improvements in geospatial information management.
Aid members in the development of a GIS and of GIS personnel within
their agencies.
Provide a means whereby the membership’s opinions on geospatial
issues affecting the Northeastern Indiana region can be presented as a
unified professional voice to State government, to the Indiana Geographic
Information Officer (GIO) and to the Indiana Geographic Information
Council (IGIC).
Support the Indiana Geographic Information Council and legislation
beneficial to the acquisition, improvement, maintenance, use and
distribution of geospatial information in Northeastern Indiana.
Advance geospatial knowledge and practice through continuing education
of GIS users, elected officials and the general public
The Charter - Notables
Membership is open to all interested
individuals.
Members are expressly disallowed from the
promotion of their for-profit products and/or
services at a meeting unless they are doing so
at the request of the Group or in response to a
direct question asked during a meeting.
The Officers shall consist of a President, a
Vice-President, and a Secretary.
The group will hold quarterly meetings
Charter was approved at July 2008 Meeting
Election of Officers
Elected officers at the October 2008
meeting
President – Dave Estes – Allen County
Vice President – Mike Snelling
Secretary – Chasity Sandy
Sample of Attendees
Allen County
City of Fort Wayne
Dekalb County
City of Butler
Northeastern REMC
City of Elkhart
Elkhart County
City of Goshen
City of Mishawaka
City of Warsaw
Elkhart County
City of Kendallville
Noble County
Wells County
Huntington County
City of Auburn
Kosciusko County
Adams County
The Schneider Corporation
ESRI
Indiana GIO
Wabash County
Whitley County
Steuben County
Lagrange County
Attendee Goals
Group was began by a group of City/County users
Utilities – REMC’s, NIPSCO etc.
Colleges and Universities – IUSB, IPFW, Taylor, Trine
etc.
Other City/County users in region
State Government – GIS Users in Northeast Indiana
Federal Government – GIS Users in Northeast Indiana
Private Sector – GIS Service Providers, Engineering
Firms etc
GIS enthusiasts
Attendee Goals
Group was began by a group of City/County users
Utilities – REMC’s, NIPSCO etc.
Colleges and Universities – IUSB, IPFW, Taylor, Trine
etc.
Other City/County users in region
State Government – GIS Users in Northeast Indiana
Federal Government – GIS Users in Northeast Indiana
Private Sector – GIS Service Providers, Engineering
Firms etc
GIS enthusiasts
Meeting Composition
NIGIC Speakers
Kevin Holle – City of Fort Wayne Imprevious
Surface Project
Tom Brenneman – ESRI – ArcGIS Server and
ArcGIS Desktop Topics
Jim Sparks – Indiana GIO – Data Sharing
Discussion
Rick Kiersey – City of Kendallville – Detailed
Cemetery Mapping Project
Invitation to Next Meeting
April 30th 2009
Kosciusko County Justice Building
121 N Lake St
Warsaw, Indiana
Thank You
Questions