87 of 92 counties in Indiana contributing data to a central GIS data portal
Vancouver, BC, October 31, 2012 – The Indiana Office of Technology (IOT) is celebrating the unprecedented success of the Indiana Data Sharing Initiative, with 87 of the 92 counties in the state now voluntarily contributing locally stewarded data streams to a central, statewide GIS resource – IndianaMap. Made possible with the collaboration of several Indiana organizations, including the Indiana Office of Technology, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), and the Indiana Geographic Information Council, the initiative is enabled in part by Safe Software’s FME Server technology.
By using FME Server centrally to consume, transform, and harmonize WFS streams provided by the counties, the impact at the local level is minimal. "The FME Server-based architecture was key to gaining acceptance from the counties," says Jim Sparks, Indiana Geographic Information Officer, IOT. "With funding from IDHS to add WFS services, and a technology that didn’t require any modifications to data management practices for the participants, we’ve gained a level of participation well beyond what many thought we could do."
"The IOT team took on an incredibly ambitious task," says Don Murray, President of Safe Software. "We are always proud when FME technology is a key element to the success of a project of this magnitude."
Jim Sparks notes, five years into the project, it was worth the effort. "Having this regional data readily available is far and away more valuable than the sum of its parts," he says. "Things like natural disasters, air quality, water quality, economic development – they don’t respect administrative boundaries. Earlier this year, when Indiana was hit with tornados, every minute counted. And the data was ready to support response efforts."
To learn more about this project, go to www.safe.com/indiana.
About Safe Software and FME
Safe Software is the maker of FME and the pioneering global leader in spatial data transformation technology. FME empowers users to confidently transform spatial data so it can be used and shared – where, when and how it’s needed. Available in seven languages, FME’s unmatched transformation capabilities and support for 275+ spatial and non-spatial formats enables you to quickly overcome data challenges so you can focus on your objectives. Discover why organizations and leading vendors worldwide rely on FME to quickly overcome barriers to using and sharing data. Visit www.safe.com.