NSGIC Geospatial Maturity Assessment

The NSGIC Geospatial Maturity Assessment (GMA) provides NSGIC members, sponsors, and other partners with a summary of geospatial initiatives, capabilities, and issues within and across state governments.

This information is intended to assist state governments with setting goals, identifying peer states for collaboration, identifying areas requiring attention, and connecting with opportunities and resources. Completing the GMA also offers state governments a chance to reflect on their geospatial strategy, operations, and progress.

The assessment is performed every two years. The current assessment results were obtained in the second half of 2017.

Individual state results

Summary of responses

National Trends

State representatives noted top GIS coordination priorities, including:

Imagery acquisitions
Collaboration and cost-sharing across state agencies and with counties/municipalities
Updating datasets
Getting ready for NG9-1-1
Improving state GIS clearinghouses
Establishing/strengthening the GIO position and GIS councils
Finding funding

One of the priorities for the GIO is finding funding for departments, employees, and work. GIOs identify the following funding sources:

A strong indicator of a state’s geospatial maturity is an established GIO position. Eighty-three percent of states indicated a figure acting in this capacity; noting, however, that individual may hold an alternate title. Forty-three percent of states identified an official, state-level GIO.

For 59% of states, the GIO “sits” in the state CIO office/department.

Another strong indicator of geospatial maturity is the existence of a coordinating council focused on GIS and geospatial priorities, issues, and challenges.