FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                  CONTACTS:  Craig Noble - 202/955-4500 x234
July 13, 1998                                                   Cheryl Kollin - 202/955-4500 x221

Cities and Counties Increase GIS Use
But AMERICAN FORESTS Report Shows Environment and Natural Resource
Applications Still Fall Short

Washington, DC-Local geographic information and geographic information =
systems (GIS) efforts are on the rise, with growing benefits for =
localities, federal agencies, states, and the private sector, according =
to a new report published from a survey by AMERICAN FORESTS.  But GIS is =
not being used to its full potential to understand how ecology works and =
to quantify its value to communities.
Geographic Information Technology in Cities and Counties: A Nationwide =
Assessment is the first nationwide assessment conducted to understand =
the condition and use of geographic information technology (GIT), =
including GIS, the use of the global positioning system (GPS) and =
satellite and other remotely-sensed data.  It provides a snapshot of =
GIT's burgeoning evolution in society and growing significance in local =
government.
The AMERICAN FORESTS survey of 200 jurisdictions identified as likely =
GIS users found that overall GIS use grew rapidly during a five-year =
period. Usage rose from 40% in 1992 to a predicted 87% by the end of =
1997.  The study showed an expanding range of departmental users and GIT =
applications, most frequently including planning, public works and =
utilities, but also newer applications, such as public safety, economic =
development/growth management and others.
The survey also assessed how information on local ecology has been =
incorporated into the use of this technology.  The findings suggest that =
GIT has not yet become a leading resource in understanding and =
addressing environment and natural resource (ENR) conditions.  For =
example, 75% of local leaders consider development and growth a high =
priority - almost twice as many as any other environmental issue-but =
less than half (42%) of those who identified this high priority were =
using GIS to address it.  Local leaders identified other ENR issues of =
high concern: stormwater and flood management (39%) and water quality =
(30%).
"Localities have a great opportunity to become more sustainable by =
incorporating the local ecology into their decisionmaking," said Gary =
Moll, Vice President of AMERICAN FORESTS' Urban Forest Center.  "By =
using GIS to conduct a detailed ecological analysis, a community may =
take advantage of existing natural resources and reduce management =
costs.  GIT is an extremely proficient tool for tackling the =
complexities of city and county management and may be the key to =
unlocking the benefits of natural resources and the environment."
Many localities have not fully considered ENR issues in their public =
policy processes.  Proactive consideration of ENR conditions often can =
reduce costs while providing additional community benefits.  As =
developable land decreases and the aesthetic and economic value of land =
and natural resources increases, GIT use can help local leaders make =
decisions for the long-term public benefit.
Local leaders' top concerns suggest further expansion of GIS use, =
particularly as they are called on to apply GIT capabilities and data to =
their priorities.  The plethora of state and federal environmental, =
natural resources and other data may increase local GIT use and enable =
leaders to make a wider range of important decisions about growth, =
economic development, emergency management, land suitability, =
infrastructure siting and other issues.
The West and South showed the most extensive GIS use, and the Northeast =
showed the least.  Large counties demonstrated the greatest level of =
resource commitment at the time of the survey, with large cities and all =
jurisdictions with increasing populations expecting to have the greatest =
future growth.  Respondents reported an average of five staff working =
with GIS in 1996 and anticipated an average of seven staff for 1997.  =
The survey showed that the range of departmental users and GIT =
applications is broadening.  More than 500 departmental users were =
identified by the 200 survey respondents.
The survey also revealed that even though the use of multiple data sets =
is increasing, the infrastructure for GIT within and among some =
localities is quite limited. Less than half of the respondents have an =
officially designated focal point for GIT coordination within their =
jurisdiction, and fewer have official interdepartmental groups or =
clearinghouses.  While most respondents indicated some data sharing, =
several use restrictive data policies that may impede data =
relationships.
"This report is a must-read for all who are interested in local GIT =
issues," said Ann Azari, Mayor of Fort Collins, Colorado.  "It =
highlights the critical importance of local governments and encourages =
continued investigation of local conditions to ensure that GIT plans =
meet growing societal needs and opportunities."
The 1996-97 survey included respondents from 120 cities with more than =
25,000 inhabitants and 80 counties with more than 50,000 inhabitants, =
mirroring the national proportion of cities to counties, as well as =
their population size and regional distribution.   The project was =
conducted with assistance from the National Association of Counties =
(NACo), the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and =
others.
Geographic Information Technology in Cities and Counties: A Nationwide =
Assessment was written by Lisa Warnecke, Cheryl Kollin, Jeff Beattie and =
Winifred Lyday and published by AMERICAN FORESTS.  The Executive Summary =
can be viewed on AMERICAN FORESTS' website: =
http://www.amfor.org/ufc/pubs/gitsumm.html.  The full report can be =
purchased online or by contacting AMERICAN FORESTS, P.O. Box 2000, =
Washington, DC 20013; 202/955-4500.  The price is $30 for the general =
public and $25 for members of NACo, ICMA, URISA and AMERICAN FORESTS.
AMERICAN FORESTS is the oldest national citizens conservation =
organization.  Its Urban Forest Center applies scientific information =
about trees and ecological systems to urban development.  Its CITYgreen =
GIS software application provides individuals, local organizations, and =
government agencies with a powerful but affordable and user-friendly way =
to evaluate development and restoration strategies and their impacts on =
neighborhoods and communities.  For information on CITYgreen, check =
AMERICAN FORESTS' website at http://www.amfor.org or contact Alice Ewen =
at 202/955-4500, extension 227.

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