Development of spatial information systems in public agencies

Abstract

Geographic and land information are often used in growth and resource management decisions. When these decisions are controversial, as they often are, conflict extends to the quality of the supporting information. However, a determination of the use and name of data and information in land decision making is difficult because data and information have attributes of appropriability, quantity, and public good, which are not as easily measured as for other economic commodities. Nevertheless, there is an inherent faith in the idea that investment in better information makes better decisions. This faith is enhanced by improvements in the efficiency, reliability, and accuracy of data and information collection, analysis, and dissemination made possible by advances in measurement and information science. These improvements are not without potential dangers represented by an enhanced ability to misuse data and information and to impose harm through improperly supported decisions. Attention to geographic and land information system design and use can ameliorate these dangers.