Data and Technology Coordination

Data Coordination

MnGeo's data coordination responsibilities include:

  • Identifying data priorities
  • Coordinating state data investments
  • Developing and promoting the use of data standards
  • Identifying appropriate developers, aggregators and stewards for statewide data assets
  • Coordinating enterprise solutions for data storage, retrieval and use.

Data Acquisition

MnGeo works with State agencies and strategic partners, such as the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Farm Service Agency, local governments and other organizations, to coordinate funding strategies to acquire essential geospatial data. Prominent among these are statewide acquisition of orthoimagery data, or aerial images, that are essential to modern GIS applications. MnGeo staff is especially experienced at packaging multi-organizational agreements to assemble the funding needed to acquire data and works closely with its partners to ensure technical experts develop product specifications.

Data Standards

MnGeo staff coordinates and promotes the development and use of standards for data documentation, development and testing. Such standards are essential to building comprehensive enterprise solutions for geospatial technology development and use.

Data Plans

MnGeo continues to carry on the work of the Land Management Information Center and the Minnesota Governor's Council on Geographic Information to work with stakeholders to develop, update and implement plans for building a comprehensive enterprise solution to meeting our geospatial data needs. An example of of one such report is: A Business Plan for Statewide Parcel Data Integration in Minnesota, a Federal Geographic Data Committee CAP grant to MnGeo and collaborating organizations.

The Minnesota Geospatial Commons

The Minnesota Geospatial Commons serves as a convenient source for geographic resources, ranging from simple state maps to complex geospatial data needed to power Geographic Information Systems.

Technology Coordination

The State's vision for geospatial technology acquisition, development, deployment and management is enterprise-wide -- providing high quality services available to all of State government and partner organizations.

Enterprise Licensing

MnGeo administers an Enterprise License Agreement (ELA) with Esri for GIS software for State government. This agreement allows the 17 participating agencies to save over a million dollars in annual license fees, enjoy reduced maintenance and support costs, and acquire and use current versions of the software. The use of common geospatial software promotes sharing of routines, data and knowledge among state agencies.

MnGeo also participated in the negotiations for an Esri Master Purchase Agreement (MPA) that allows state agencies and local governments to acquire and receive discounts on most Esri software products and services.

Service Coordination

MnGeo coordinates with agencies and other organizations that provide component services, such as image, geocoding, proximity, and query. MnGeo’s popular Image Service provides more than 130,000 image requests every day.