News
Project & Product Highlights
MnSHIP
The Minnesota Department of Administration’s State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Cultural Resources Unit (CRU) and MNIT, introduced the Minnesota Statewide Historic Inventory Portal (MnSHIP). This online platform offers detailed information on over 100,000 above-ground historical sites across Minnesota.
The public can use MnSHIP’s search tools and interactive maps to explore SHPO’s historic survey data and access scanned documents relating to inventoried and listed properties. Credentialed users can access advanced search functions and submit inventory forms. MnSHIP also serves as the sole platform for submitting new historic inventory information to the SHPO for review and approval.
Enterprise Office of Translation
The Minnesota Department of Administration’s Enterprise Translations Office (ETO) recently inaugurated two pivotal initiatives: the ETO Translation Hub and the Language Access Service Fund (LASF). According to Minnesota Statute 16B.373, the ETO is tasked with providing translation services to guarantee that all Minnesotans have fair access to crucial information and services, irrespective of language obstacles.
The ETO combines the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and human intelligence to provide translation services, with a primary emphasis on Spanish, Hmong, and Somali languages. The ETO empowers agencies to adopt best practices and to enhance clarity and precision in diverse communications. ETO staff will provide language expertise to ensure accuracy of translations. Concurrently, the Language Access Service Fund (LASF) equips agencies with resources for procuring translation services that extend beyond the current offerings of the ETO
EV Rebate Program
MNIT and the Department of Commerce joined forces to launch an Electric Vehicle Rebate Program. This initiative offers up to $2,500 for new electric vehicle owners/lessees and up to $600 for those with used electric vehicles. Eligibility extends to electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids bought on or after May 25, 2023.
The Department of Commerce processes applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Each application requires individual processing to verify that it meets all the necessary program and state guidelines. The Department began to issue rebate payments in April 2024.
MnDOT Statewide Road Centerline Dataset Now Available
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) released a comprehensive dataset showcasing the centerlines of all public roads and select private roadways across the state. This meticulously curated dataset, hosted on the Minnesota Geospatial Commons, serves as a vital resource for transportation planning, infrastructure development, and public administration.
The dataset shows all the roads in Minnesota, including where they go and how they’re connected. It also organizes Minnesota’s highways into sections with unique numbers, making it easier to keep track of maintenance and changes. These sections get updated when things like who’s in charge or new highways are built, so the information stays accurate.
Student Success Loan Coaching
The Office of Higher Education (OHE) in partnership with
MNIT and a vendor, developed a system to help students through the loan process as they pursue college credentials.
This collaborative effort aims to:
- Establish Productive Coaching Relationships: Cultivate meaningful coaching relationships with students, enabling a deep understanding of their individual needs.
- Identify and Address Potential Barriers: Identify any obstacles to student success and develop effective strategies to overcome them.
- Enhance Student Knowledge and Skills: Build and reinforce the knowledge, skills, and motivation necessary for students to progress along their educational journey and complete their postsecondary pathways.
- Provide Wrap-around Support Services: Offer comprehensive support services to students, directly addressing factors that impact their ability to navigate their unique postsecondary pathways successfully.
Dubbed the Student Success Loan Coaching project, this initiative delivers comprehensive, timely, and relevant support to SELF Loan borrowers as they pursue higher education credentials. Find information about the Student Success Loan Coaching Program.
Minnesota Crime Data Explorer
The Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has long provided essential crime information for Minnesotans. Now, with the full launch of the Minnesota Crime Data Explorer, accessing comprehensive statewide crime data is easier than ever. This user-friendly tool offers more detailed insights, thanks to its use of the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Unlike previous systems, NIBRS provides extensive information on up to 10 crimes per incident, along with comprehensive demographic data on victims and offenders. This shift enables a more nuanced understanding of crime activity statewide.
The Minnesota Crime Data Explorer complements the annual uniform crime report, incorporating NIBRS to enhance its capabilities. Users can query, filter, and sort crime data, visualize trends through charts and graphs, and export graphics and spreadsheets. These visual options make the data more accessible and easier to interpret. The new online tool incorporates NIBRS and adds to the existing annual uniform crime report published each year. It allows users to query, filter and sort crime data; view trends in charts and graphs; and export graphics and spreadsheets. The visual options make the data more accessible and easier to understand
MDVA Opens Three New Homes
After a decade-long approval effort and two years of construction, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs opened three new Veterans Homes, adding close to 200 new beds for those who need them. This marks a crucial step in meeting the growing demand for skilled nursing care services in Minnesota.
The project encompassed 20 individual initiatives aimed at ensuring the smooth integration and operational readiness of the new facilities. These initiatives included upgrading infrastructure, establishing business continuity plans, meeting regulatory requirements, integrating state-of-the-art medical devices, customizing software solutions, enhancing security measures, and onboarding new team members.
Contributing to the operational readiness, MNIT partnered with MDVA to:
- Onboard 180 team members.
- Procure, configure, and install 385 phones, computers, and touchscreens.
- Expand the capacity of core business applications so all staff members have seamless access to vital resources and information throughout the organization.
Geospatial Advisory Council 2024 Priorities
The Minnesota Geospatial Advisory Council (GAC) serves as a central coordinating entity for the geospatial community in Minnesota, representing a diverse array of stakeholders including counties, cities, universities, businesses, nonprofits, federal and state agencies, tribal governments, surveyors, and other interested groups leveraging geospatial technology.
Outlined below are the priorities for the Minnesota Geospatial Advisory Council in 2024, as ratified by GAC members on March 20, 2024. These priorities, shaped by community input and resource availability, are subject to fluctuating levels of activity and are categorized rather than ranked by importance.
Open Data
Statewide Parcel Data – Share statewide and public parcel data in the GAC Parcel Data Standard.
Statewide Address Points Data – Share statewide and public address points data in the GAC Address Point Data Standard.
Statewide Road Centerline Data – Share statewide and public road centerline data in the GAC Road Centerline Data Standard.
Publication of Open Foundational Datasets – Publish foundational datasets and share nationally through open data and commercial sources. Foundational datasets are parcels, addresses, road centerlines, and critical infrastructure.
More Fully-Attributed Statewide Parcel Data – Increase the presence of field values within the statewide and public parcel dataset and as defined by the GAC Parcel Data Standard.
Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Services, Criminal Justice
Critical Infrastructure Data Workflow – Develop, share, and maintain statewide, publicly available, authoritative geospatial data for primary critical infrastructure themes.
Underground Utilities Data Sharing Team – Develop geospatial data sharing methodologies to support the state’s underground utilities community.
U.S. National Grid Materials – Create maps, procedures, templates, and other materials to help all levels of government implement the U.S. National Grid.
Data Standards, Guidelines, Best Practices
Culvert Data Standard – Develop culvert data standard for data sharing across the geospatial and infrastructure asset management communities and to support development of a future statewide culvert inventory.
Planned Land Use Data Standard – Develop a data standard for planned land use.
Data Development, Data Storage, Data Services
Updated & Aligned Boundary Data – Update and align boundary data from authoritative sources.
Statewide County Boundary Dataset – Make a single, aligned statewide county boundary dataset available on the Minnesota Geospatial Commons.
Lidar Data – Acquire New lidar data across Minnesota for use in developing new derived products guided by committee-developed standards.
Hydro-DEMs – Provide accurate hydro-DEMs (hDEMs) that serve modern flood modeling and hydro-terrain analysis tools, and the development of more accurate watercourses and watersheds.
Statewide Imagery Program – Through a long-term effort, optimize the acquisition, inspection, documentation, distribution, and archiving of statewide imagery.
Geodata Archive Implementation – Implement an archive for Minnesota geospatial data.
Outreach
Success Stories for Geospatial Technology – Use outreach and education to show success stories for geospatial technology.
K-12 GIS Resources Group – Develop resources for K-12 educators to learn, practice, and implement GIS in the classroom.
Public Land Survey Preservation
Remonumentation of all Original Federal Section Corners – Remonument all original Minnesota section corners set by the National General Land Office.
Statewide Survey Records Inventory – Inventory and assess land survey records held by government agencies within the state of Minnesota.
Whole-of-State Efforts
Current Partnerships
In response to concerns expressed in a survey conducted of Minnesota organizations, MNIT prioritized, developed, and is currently delivering services to enhance cyber resilience for local governments.
Here’s what we’re currently working on:
- Cyber Navigators: Our team of cyber navigators actively engages with organizations, conducting assessments, and reviewing their cyber hygiene.
- Managed Detection and Response (MDR): Over 100 entities enrolled in our early adopter program for the MDR tool, with the majority now onboarded and benefiting from its capabilities.
- Security Risk Assessments: We continue to partner with Metropolitan State University to conduct risk assessments of organizations’ cybersecurity postures and provide meaningful recommendations to mitigate risk.
Looking Forward
Based on feedback from the survey, we’re addressing two additional concerns:
- Threat Intelligence: We are implementing tools to monitor for indicators of compromised data and other information obtained through the open and dark web, providing targeted and timely alerts.
- Vulnerability Management: Our upcoming tools will scan public-facing devices, domains, and IPs for common vulnerabilities, providing timely intelligence and mitigation guidance.