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The mission of the Center for Geographic Information and
Analysis (CGIA) is to enhance, facilitate, and promote the
efficient, cost-effective development and use of geographic
information in North Carolina. This is achieved through the
creation, maintenance, and distribution of a statewide database
of geographic information; the provision of geographic
information systems services to organizations and individuals
with interests in the state; and the coordination of activities
related to geographic information and technology.
Operating CGIA has a strong working relationship with many state
agencies, counties, municipalities, federal agencies, nonprofit
organizations, educational institutions and private
businesses. Working on a cost-recovery basis since its
inception, CGIA has developed an internal discipline and a set
of skills that achieve high service quality. CGIA operates a
services program, a database management program and a
coordination program in two locations.
The North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and
Analysis (CGIA) is an agency in the Office of State Planning
within the Governor's Office. CGIA is the lead coordinating
agency in state government for geographic
information. Established in 1977 as part of the Land Policy Act
under the name of Land Resources Information Service, CGIA
implemented one of the first fully operational state geographic
information systems in the country. Its traditional mission has
been to build and maintain a statewide database of digital
geographic information and to provide gis services to a broad
list of clients including other state government agencies, local
government and regional organizations, the private sector, and
academic institutions.
In 1991, the mission of CGIA was affirmed through executive
order and expanded to include support for a formal GIS
coordination initiative in North Carolina. Governor James
B. Hunt Jr., reaffirmed this support of coordination of
geographic information with a new executive order in May
1993. The coordination initiative recognizes that: (1)
geographic information is a strategic resource for North
Carolina; (2) decisions involving geography are increasingly
complex and involve overlapping governmental responsibilities;
and (3) limited financial resources demand that agencies work
together to develop and utilize geographic information.
Website: "http://cgia.cgia.state.nc.us/cgia/"
[Summary provided by the North Carolina CGIA]
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