4/12/2005 CABLE AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE Minutes

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Town of Mashp ee Web-based GIS initiative: Report on the options available to Develop and Implement a Web-Based Intranet/Internet GIS July 2004 Introduction Introduced in the Town of Mashpee GIS Implementation Status Report, prepared in August 2003, was the concept. of a web-browser based GIS. This approach was recommended as an economical alternative to the purchasing of individual ArcView software seats for each Town user and, ultimately, to provide GIS to the general public. This type of GIS has come a long way in a short time. The Assistant Planner attended a GIS conference in November 2003 where three venders had demonstrations on their respective web-based GIS: 1) Applied Geographics, Inc. (AGI, who has been the Town's GIS consultant since 1998), 2) Full Circle Technologies, Inc. and 3) CDM. hi the GIS Implementation Status Report the option of the Town purchasing ArcIMS software (GIS software designed to run on a server machine) had been mentioned as an option. Discussions with the MIS Director indicate that this is not a realistic option, as the Town does not have adequate support staff to develop and maintain our own GIS website. The development and implementation of a World Wide Web- browser based GIS In order to provide GIS and the associated GIS data, as well to provide for a truly interactive, complete Town-wide implementation of GIS, it is recommended that a World Wide Web- browser based system be developed and implemented. I will report on the readily available options to the Town to implement this type of GIS and present cost estimates from three (3) different venders. This report generally follows the timetable set last August as part of rolling our GIS data to other Town employees and, ultimately, the general public. The GIS Implementation Status Report called for during the Fall 2003 and Winter 2004 to review the different options available for a Web-browser based GIS and to prepare a report on these options in Spring 2004. The Town would then determine the best option for Web-based browser GIS in Summer 2004 and begin to seek funding for this effort. It has been determined it will be most economical for the Town to hire a consultant to design and host our web-based GIS versus doing this in-house. In general, it is recommended that a Web- based GIS data be made available first to other Departments (via Intranet); then ultimately to the members of the general public (via Internet). There are three (3) venders that have been identified in developing for the Town of Mashpee a web-browser based GIS: 1) Development of a GIS Website by our current GIS consultant,AGI. They would develop this site using ArcIMS technology. 1