Public data meets open data
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a digital map of the world to which individuals, corporations, and government agencies contribute geographic data which can then be freely used by anyone under two conditions.
What is “geospatially smart” and why does it matter?
I have always thought that part of the value of GIS to a local government agency was to foster enhanced understanding by employees and citizens of the geographic conditions of their community—to build their geospatial smarts.
King County GIS Center 2015-2016 Biennial Report
The King County GIS Center is open and transparent with its plans, processes, and performance. Every two years, roughly in line with King County’s biennial budget process, we produce a King County GIS Operations and Maintenance Plan. We also publish a biennial report which has different focus. The most recent publication, the 2015-2016 King County GIS Center Biennial Report, provides a comprehensive overview of King County GIS Center activities.
The GIS Justice League
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO) is a recurring client of King County GIS Center Client Services. Often the PAO needs our help creating exhibits for court or with analyzing GPS data to develop a case.
The marks we leave: John Spellman, 1926-2018
Government leaders inevitably leave long paper trails and numerous digital footprints. One of the newest marks made by our own current King County Executive, Dow Constantine, honors his first predecessor in his office, Gov. John Spellman who died on Tuesday. Remembrances of Gov. Spellman this week prompted me to reach back into my personal archives for a record of when then County Executive Spellman’s paper trail and my much more humble one intersected.
Something old for the New Year
King County Archives recently made 45 volumes of the King County Assessor’s timber cruise reports from 1907-1908 available on their website.
Improved Geospatial Data Act Reintroduced on GIS Day 2017
Here is proof that Congress can work together to do good work for the nation, for industry, and for the GIS Profession. Happy GIS Day! http://statescoop.com/congress-introduces-geospatial-data-act-to-the-delight-of-gis-advocates#.Wg7bxPuQgFU.twitter
A virtual view of what’s new in Seattle
Seattle, the county seat for King County and the largest city in the state of Washington, has seen great growth in the past 15 years in the construction of new buildings and infrastructure. During this same 15-year span, here in the King County GIS Center we have added two sets of vintage “lidar” data for the county to our GIS data library.
Impressive first impressions
I am not a geographer and until I started working with the KCGIS Center team, my idea of GIS was just “maps and stuff.” When it comes to mapping, I was more of a Google Maps guy to get me from point A to point B…that’s it! Working with KCGIS has shown me that GIS is so much more than just maps and stuff…
Redistricting, elections, and gerrymandering
Perhaps, like me, you remember the term “gerrymander” from history class. A gerrymandered electoral district is one whose boundaries are defined—often with unusually shaped geographic extents—to intentionally favor one political party over another. While the term sounds silly, gerrymanders are serious business that can and do affect every aspect of our society.
GIS & You 