Can the goals we are trying to accomplish for Wisconsin GIS get overly complicated by recent Stimulus related efforts towards the economy? Is it really possible to have too much of a good thing?
This past week our Office looked into:
- Viewing map products that can show where Stimulus dollars will go…
- Making maps that show where Stimulus dollars could go…
- Projects that expect to receive Stimulus funding...
- Using Stimulus administrative funds to begin work on Minne-sconsin submittals – and looking at the disparate interstate problems that have identified common GIS solutions...
- Various reports which identify how potential Stimulus funding ($73B !) could affect, or be affected by, GIS utilization...
- Discussions about the merits of consortiums, grants Stimulus and gifts affecting GIS deliveries – and whether crossed paths leading to funds might be problematic.
There seems to be a rush for all this. Some people are frustrated that not enough is happening – quick enough, while others are frustrated that too much is being asked for without enough thinking about impacts and consequences.
To be sure, there's a bit of a tightrope walk involved to make quick and efficient application of GIS solutions towards our state/national economic issues. And where monies are involved there will always be discussion or argument too.
I hope these upcoming days/weeks allow us to demonstrate WI GIS community cooperation in positive ways. Throwing a variety of solutions at a problem can sometimes create other problems. Smart choices will be important. Things may get complicated, but it is always much better to have the burden of demands then to wonder why you've been ignored.
One positive exists, no matter what comes of this current flurry of interest around solutions – Decision maker’s have begun to realize (like GIS’ers) that GIS can help solve the big problems. There can be no ignoring GIS in the future, it seems to now part of mainstream thinking, and that certainly will be a good thing.