Legislature(1993 - 1994)
04/08/1994 08:15 AM House RES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
Number 070
SCR 16 - Use of State Geographic Information
JO FENETY, AIDE, SENATOR DRUE PEARCE, stated the Geographic
Information System (GIS) is a tool which is becoming the
preeminent tool in finding out about land, environmental and
natural resource decision making for agencies. Through the
years, state agencies have spent millions of dollars
gathering this data. She said much of the data is
nonproprietary, yet it has been difficult to access. She
explained SCR 16 will allow access to the data by a
university associated entity.
Number 085
DR. DOUGLAS SEGAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA,
ANCHORAGE, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCE INSTITUTE,
stated GIS is becoming the method of storing and using
environment and natural resource data. GIS is a method of
storing data in a computer which can be continuously updated
and instantly printed out for use in decision making on an
ongoing, timely basis. He said GIS replaces the old data
report and map which was updated once every two years. The
Environment and Natural Resource Institute has three public
information programs including the Arctic Environmental
Information and Data Center, the Alaska State Climate
Center, and the Alaska Natural Heritage program.
DR. SEGAR said the Environment and Natural Resource
Institute is in the business of providing to the public and
students environment and natural resource data related to
the state and the arctic for various purposes. The
institute has approximately 300 requests a month for
information, with the majority of requests coming from
individuals or small businesses who are not able to spend
the time or money to research where this information is. He
noted the institute has had a minor problem in recent years
both with the federal government and state agencies in that
now the information is being stored on computers, there is a
tendency to think that the GIS files are works in progress
and therefore, not at the point where they should be
released. He said there is a tendency to call them draft
reports. However, in practice these files are continuously
updated, so they never will be finished. He stated the
institute needs assistance to ensure access.
DR. SEGAR noted the institute is designated as a
(indiscernible) data base center and therefore has access to
all of the United Nations environment program GIS files.
The institute also has an agreement with the U.S. Geological
Survey, who is the GIS leader in the federal government,
giving the institute access to most and eventually all of
the federal government GIS files. The institute would like
to be able to do the same with state information.
Number 125
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES asked if this program receives federal
funds and if so, how will cuts in federal funding affect the
program.
DR. SEGAR responded there will be little effect. The
institute supplements its general fund appropriation about
3-1 with federal funding. That ratio has not changed over
the years and there is no expectation of any change in the
future. He said the institute is quite capable of
generating additional federal dollars, but it is felt that
is not a very stable thing to do. He stressed the institute
is unable to accept all of the federal contracts which are
offered. He noted the institute has had to adopt an
internal rule that contracts will not be accepted where the
institute has to match with more than 20 percent state
funding because the institute cannot then take in the same
amount of federal dollars. He noted that federal funding in
this area is actually increasing.
Number 151
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON asked if the university and state data
processing systems are now compatible.
DR. SEGAR replied yes. He said in the GIS area, there is a
standard software package which is not just standard in
Alaska or the United States, but worldwide.
REPRESENTATIVE HUDSON stated this is an area that years ago
much effort was put forth in trying to establish systems
between the university and state agencies which were
sufficiently compatible and there was resistance by the
university. He wondered if that problem has been rectified.
DR. SEGAR responded at a number of levels the problem has
been rectified, but he cannot say the problem has been
eliminated completely.
REPRESENTATIVE JAMES made a MOTION to MOVE SCR 16 out of
committee with INDIVIDUAL RECOMMENDATIONS.
CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS asked if there were any objections.
Hearing none, the MOTION PASSED.
Number 180
(CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS noted for the record that REPRESENTATIVE
BUNDE had joined the committee at 8:45 a.m.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHAIRMAN WILLIAMS stated the resumes of the ten Governor's
appointees to various state boards and commissions had been
distributed to each committee member. He asked the
committee to decide if they are prepared to make their
decision regarding confirmation based on the individual's
resume or if they would like to interview any of the
individuals, either in person or by teleconference. He said
the committee will consider these appointments on Monday,
April 11.
The committee decided the only two people they would like to
interview are Richard Burley and Ed Grasser, appointees to
the Board of Game. However, the committee decided that each
appointee should be on teleconference for questions and
discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the House
Resources Committee, Chairman Williams adjourned the meeting
at 8:50 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|