Geospatial

The Enterprise GIS Software service offering includes:

• Access to most geospatial products in the Esri Catalog for state agency partners.
• Annual software license.
• Cost of the enterprise license is shared among all agencies that use it. Cost is determined by an agreed-upon allocation formula based on the software products used by each agency and the size of the agency.
• Administrative support.
• Support through the MNIT Enterprise Service Desk.

The Minnesota Geospatial Commons provides a hosted environment and a common access point for agency, and other government and non-government customers to access geospatial data and metadata. Having spatial data in a single place significantly reduces time for users to find and obtain the data. 

The cost of the Minnesota Geospatial Commons is shared among all state agencies based on the same cost allocation used for Enterprise GIS Software. There is no cost for non-state entities to use the Geospatial Commons. 

The Minnesota Geospatial Commons service offering includes:

• Data repository hosting infrastructure and software.
• Data backup and disaster recovery.
• Maintenance of the data repository.
• Support to set up publisher accounts and help getting started publishing datasets.
• Support through the MNIT Enterprise Service Desk.

MNIT provides the following GIS Tools that agencies may use in applications and web pages:

• Bing Maps API: The Bing Maps APIs include map controls that allow staff to incorporate interactive and static Bing Maps in applications and websites. The APIs also provide access to other geospatial features such as geocoding, route and traffic data, and spatial data sources that can be used to store and query data that has a spatial component, such as store locations. The API can be used for both internal and external websites. To learn more, see Getting Started with Bing Maps.
• Geocoding: A secure geocoding tool for use in Esri software and web applications. Geocoding uses a MNIT-hosted version of Esri Street Map Premium and is available to map Minnesota addresses. Geocoding is available only to state of Minnesota agencies for desktop and web applications.
• Extract Transform Load (ETL): Using ETL software and services, MNIT provides ETL in GIS solutions. 

All GIS Tools service offerings include support through the MNIT Enterprise Service Desk.

Geospatial Managed Hosting uses services and storage in the MNIT secure environment to provide hosting for geospatial application/data production, test, and development environments. Agencies who want to use this service are assigned to the most appropriate geospatial application hosting environments depending on their need. 

This service offering includes:

• Shared or Dedicated Environment
• Support through the MNIT Enterprise Service Desk

Professional services may be provided on an as-needed basis for work efforts outside of normal support due to their size, scope, timing, or complexity. MNIT staff work closely with agencies to: define the scope of the effort; identify requirements, tasks and deliverables; create and refine a work plan and budget; and execute and manage the defined effort to completion. An executed Service Authorization is required to begin work for any agency project. 

• The standard channels for notifying MNIT regarding incidents with the Geospatial services are the MN Service Hub and the MNIT Enterprise Service Desk (651-297-1111). Geospatial support is available during normal business hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. excluding state holidays.
• Incident notifications and service requests related to unavailability of the Geospatial services will be acknowledged within four business hours of the notification if reported through standard incident notification channels.
• Performance-related incidents will be prioritized, and an attempt will be made to resolve these incidents within eight business hours or less.
• Within normal business hours, MNIT will acknowledge website operational problems within four hours after they are identified by agency staff and reported to MNIT through the agency’s primary contact. 
• Within one business day, MNIT staff will respond to website operational problems identified by agency staff and reported to MNIT through the agency’s primary contact. MNIT staff will keep the agency’s primary contact apprised of needed repairs and anticipated timelines to complete repairs.
• Extraordinary situations involving activation of a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) or disaster recovery plan may impact MNIT’s ability to meet the targeted incident response times. MNIT will notify all customers if these activities are scheduled.

• Participate with MNIT in a design process for all requests for new services or applications to ensure the agency’s needs are met while adhering to MNIT requirements.
• Designate a primary contact as the agency liaison with MNIT for Geospatial service incidents.
• Submit requests for new/modified software, services, or support through the Minnesota Service Hub.
• Provide a detailed requirements document for new requests.
• Provide resources to perform systems testing as needed.
• Submit break/fix incidents through the MNIT Enterprise Service Desk.
• Submit requests for decommissioning of old websites through the Minnesota Service Hub.