Maryland Governor Establishes "Maryland iMap"

On December 18, 2009, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed an Executive Order entitled "One Maryland - One Map; Maryland Integrated Map (MD iMap)" (PDF) that establishes an organizational structure to guide and coordinate inter-agency and intergovernmental efforts to share geospatial data and tools in Maryland.

The order identifies and defines the role of an Executive Committee, including the Secretaries of all the state's cabinet agencies, and formally identifies and defines the role of the State Geographic Information Officer (GIO) as well as that of the Technical Committee.

(NSGIC's own) Kenny Miller, who has been filling the role for all practical purposes for some time, is the designated GIO and will move later this year from his long-term home in Maryland's Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Information Technology.

The executive order is focused on the creation of a "Maryland Integrated Map (MD iMap), which will serve as a statewide basemap and help state agencies to "better implement and coordinate policies across the State."

"The execution of the Executive Order has been a long time in coming and reflects the value of laying the foundation over the years to prepare for this eventuality. It also reflects the rapid increase in interest at the highest levels of State government in providing Marylanders with information of how their government allocates funds and where those funds are spent" reflects Kenny Miller, who becomes the State's first-ever GIO.

"The Maryland State Geographic Information Committee (MSGIC) began in the early 1990's to grow GIS technology and foster collaboration and communication to among the various partners. It wasn't until the O'Malley-Brown Administration began, in early 2007, to demand agencies use GIS to both target program efforts and funds and to measure progress that the interest on formalizing the governance and official capacity of the GIO really took root. This represents a win for all those who have labored to make this day a reality."

The Governor will provide strategic direction to the Executive Committee, which will be chaired by the Secretary of Information Technology. The Director of the Governor's StateStat office will be vice-chair.

The Executive Council, which  will be a "subcabinet" and will advise the Governor on all issues pertaining to the MD iMAP, will designate a Technical Committee, headed by the GIO, to oversee the day to day activities needed to create the MD iMAP.