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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

2004 Awards: Digital Government: Government to Government

WINNER: Virginia
Virginia Base Mapping Program

Left to right: Bob Rike and Bill Shinar

Local government and state agencies in Virginia spend an estimated $40 to $55 million annually in the development, use, and maintenance of geographic information systems (GIS). Previously, those investments were being made in a "patchwork quilt" of information systems across Virginia, producing an inefficient geospatial infrastructure that was becoming more entrenched with each investment.

In October of 2001, the state began work on the Virginia Base Mapping Program (VBMP). The program's goal was to establish and maintain one consistent, accurate, foundational digital base map upon which local government and many regional, state, and federal geospatial data applications could be built, producing an efficient statewide geospatial infrastructure. The Virginia Wireless E-911 Services Board funded the VBMP, in support of statewide implementation of federal requirements for E-911 emergency response services for cellular phones. High resolution digital orthophotography was determined to provide the accuracy required for wireless E-911.

The VBMP program was managed by the Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) Division of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). VGIN contracted with VARGIS LLC. of Herndon, Virginia, to produce full color, "leaf-off", digital orthophotography for the entire land base of Virginia. The imagery was developed at one of three scales, determined by evaluating population and housing densities.

In February 2003, VGIN began delivery to each of Virginia's 134 independent cities and counties, including 128 E-911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), a DVD set including High-resolution digital orthophotography covering the county/city, as well as imagery for adjacent communities. Such regional coverage was essential to meeting the mutual response obligations of local E-911 operations.

"The Virginia Base Mapping Program is an excellent example of how collaborations across traditional program boundaries can significantly improve services at all levels of government. Beyond the substantial dollar savings, we will continue to reap the service benefits of the VBMP in public safety, economic development, and so many other arenas for years to come."
Lemuel C. Stewart, Jr., Chief Information Officer, Commonwealth of Virginia The VBMP project was completed in June of 2003, on time and under budget. The extent and scope of this project was unprecedented. No entity the size of Virginia had ever attempted to complete this level of digital mapping in such a short time period. Savings to the taxpayer thus far are estimated at $5 to $8 million, and continue to grow. Outcome-based measures, such as lives saved and injuries/ property damage avoided, will be significant, albeit more difficult to quantify.

The VBMP statewide imagery has produced a single consistent, seamless base map, providing the foundation for a consistent enterprise architecture for GIS throughout Virginia. This ensures that data sharing for state and local, public and private business applications, including E-911 response, permit tracking, natural resource protection, transportation planning and economic and labor analysis, operate at the highest possible efficiency and can be consistently applied anywhere in Virginia.

RUNNER UP:
Michigan
Crash Process Redesign

NOMINATIONS:
Click on the link to download program submission.

Arkansas
VISION 2010: Building Healthy, Sustainable Communities

Colorado
Employee Data System (EDSys)

Florida
Juvenile Justice Information System-Intake Process Upgrade

Idaho
State of Idaho Employee Portal

Kentucky
Kentucky Races to Collect from Deadbeat Dads

Montana
Mutual Aid Frequencies Permit Request Service

Nebraska
PIONEER-Pension Information of Nebraska for Efficient and Effective

Nevada
LOCATION AWARE APPLICATION

New York
The New York State-Local Internet Gateway Prototype Project

North Carolina
Department of State Treasurer Core Banking

Oklahoma
Warrant Imaging Project

Oregon
Oregon Department of Corrections - Management Information System

Washington
Washington State Small Agency Program

Wisconsin
Purchase Plus, FIRST, and Payroll, Time Accounting Web

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