LANSING – Plotting the locations of geological
features, demographic information, transportation options and other data became
more accessible with Wednesday’s launch of the Department of Technology,
Management and Budget’s GIS Open Data website.
One example of a practical use of
the website is the ability to easily cross-reference jurisdictional boundaries
with transportation networks and workforce demographics. This functionality
will support businesses looking to expand or re-locate in the state, allowing
them to customize data for their unique business needs.
Governor Rick Snyder has made it a
priority to make state of Michigan data and information more accessible for
government, business and public use. Executive Directive 2013-1 enhanced
information-sharing between state departments, opening the door for
user-friendly applications that allow citizens to find information from across
state government in one place.
“This new site is a key piece of our
overall efforts to make information open and available to citizens,” said DTMB
Director David Behen. “The coordination and sharing of data from multiple
agencies and levels of government is a great step forward in achieving Governor
Snyder’s transparency goals. Pulling it all together in one place will improve
the overall experience for everyone.”
Geographic Information Systems provide
location components to information, allowing the data to be represented
geographically. This new site can be used to browse, search, preview and
download a variety of Michigan geospatial data sets and view them on a
map.
Open access to accurate and current
geospatial data is critical in decisions on economic development, natural
resources, public safety, environment, health and human services,
transportation and tourism.
The GIS Open Data portal will
continue to improve over time as more information is uploaded to the site from
state agencies, local municipalities and other verified sources. The site can
be accessed at www.michigan.gov/openmichigan.
