NASCIO 2014 State IT Recognition Awards

Transcription

1 NASCIO 2014 State IT Recognition Awards Title: Georgia Outdoor Map Category: Information Communications Technology (ICT) Innovations Contact: John C. Martin, Project Initiation Date: March 2012 Project Completion Date: October 2013

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Looking for a boat ramp in Brunswick along Georgia s coast, or a camping site in the Blue Ridge Mountains should be as easy as search and find. Now with the web-based interactive tool, Georgia Outdoor Map, users can easily find different types of outdoor recreational opportunities in all parts of the state. The new tool was developed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Information Technology Department, in collaboration with Google Maps mapping service and Georgia State University, and is free to use at Georgia Outdoor Map can be viewed on any device with a web browser, including desktop computers, smartphones and tablets. Users can tailor searches to their specific needs and easily access turn-by-turn directions, telephone numbers and website links for more details. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) operates more than 400 properties covering more than one million acres, and Georgia Outdoor Map encompasses all properties open to the public, from the smallest historic site to the largest wildlife management area. It offers a quick way to find boat ramps, campgrounds, archery ranges and more. Now with the web-based interactive tool, Georgia Outdoor Map, users can easily find different types of outdoor recreational opportunities in all parts of the state. Besides presenting information to the public in a more insightful and user-friendly way, Georgia Outdoor Map enhances DNR s operating efficiency by reducing the number of calls to headquarters and division offices, and by serving as a platform for information sharing across DNR s divisions and program areas. Georgia Outdoor Map is achieving its goals to: Reduce the agency s operating costs Raise revenues Improve customer service 1

3 BUSINESS PROBLEM AND SOLUTION DESCRIPTION DNR faced a challenge: take mountains of geographical data and combine and present it to citizens in a meaningful way. For over 20 years, the state had invested millions of dollars to collect geospatial data, but the data was spread across more than 40 websites and stored in ArcGIS files, Oracle and SQL databases, Excel spreadsheets and PDF documents. As a result, the ability to correlate data according to multiple needs did not exist. For instance, if someone wanted to find a location that offers fishing and camping and is wheelchair accessible, it was practically impossible. In addition, none of the data was in a format that allowed access from a mobile device, and like most state agencies, DNR had very limited funds to address the challenge of somehow making the data useful to Georgians and even its own staff. With minimal training and internal developer support, DNR staff can now export location data to one combined map. DNR found its solution in a public-privateacademic partnership. With the assistance of interns provided by Georgia State University, DNR collected data from all five of its divisions. It then worked with an architecture team at Google to organize the data and load it into Google Maps mapping service, which provides a single platform for presenting data in Google Maps. With minimal training and internal developer support, DNR staff can now export location data to one combined map. 2

4 SIGNIFICANCE From its beginning, the project was customer-centric and heavily targeted toward viewing data on mobile devices, which currently account for about 50 percent of all visits. DNR s IT team stepped back and took their direction from the agency s business leaders. The project team focused on lessons learned from the private sector: Align IT with business needs Improve IT service levels to achieve strategic business initiatives Enhance the brand Increase the competitive advantage and revenues As a result, Georgians can go to a single online site for the first time to find locations that meet their individual wants and needs for outdoor and recreational activities. Georgia Outdoor Map is accessible from any device with a web browser, including desktop computers, smartphones and tablets, and is free and simple to use. Georgia Outdoor Map is currently receiving up to 500 visits per day. As of May 2014, it has linked visitors to other DNR webpages more than 15,000 times. Users can tailor searches to their specific needs, including accessibility for people with disabilities, and easily access turn-by-turn directions, telephone numbers and website links for more details. Interactive Map Help provides easy-to-follow directions for getting the most benefit possible from Georgia Outdoor Map, and focuses particular attention on three major features: Locations, Things to Do and Directions. DNR operates more than 400 properties covering more than one million acres, and Georgia Outdoor Map encompasses all properties open to the public, from the smallest historic site to the largest wildlife management area. The tool also offers a Near Me function to help users determine which recreational opportunities are closest to them. Users can even find the locations of artificial reefs, some of which were created with old transit cars, and sunken boats; both types of sites are often great spots for fishing. Georgia Outdoor Map also enhances public safety. In the event that someone is lost or needs assistance while visiting a DNR-managed property, rescue teams can couple real-time views of the property s boundaries with the GPS function that s available on most mobile devices to find the person. 3

5 Georgia Outdoor Map is currently receiving up to 500 visits per day. As of May 2014, it has linked visitors to other DNR webpages more than 15,000 times. Agency managers hope to soon be able to track the number of reservations made as a result of visiting Georgia Outdoor Map. Georgia Outdoor Map supports Governor Nathan Deal s goals to protect the state s natural, recreational, cultural and historic resources for both their ecological and economic value since they drive tourism and support jobs throughout Georgia. In announcing Georgia Outdoor Map, Governor Deal said, We are blessed here in Georgia with a state that is rich in both natural and cultural resources. I want to encourage Georgians to use this interactive tool to find new places to explore. BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT Georgia Outdoor Map: Makes information about the state s natural, recreational, cultural and historic resources more readily available to the public Enables DNR to layer existing business data on a single map so users can see information in a more insightful, actionable way Provides users with a no-cost, one-stop shop for their recreational needs using any mobile or stationary device with a web browser Promotes tourism and increased use of DNR-managed sites, which results in higher revenues for the department Promotes DNR operational efficiency by reducing calls to DNR headquarters and its five divisions; prior to the launch of Georgia Outdoor Map, each division was receiving up to 25 calls every week about locations for various outdoor activities and their availability Promotes DNR operational efficiency by serving as an ongoing platform for information sharing across DNR s five divisions and program areas within each division Enhances public safety 4