Organizations, including governments and Businesses, are made up of many departments and individuals that have specific tasks to perform. Inevitably, in any organization, necessary information sequestered in one department can also be used by other departments--if only that information were accessible to the other departments. Many of us can relate to the frustration that results from working long and hard to solve a problem only to find out that another department is working on it independently or solved it a year ago. And the bigger the organization, the more potential there is for this inadvertent lack of sharing.

Enterprise GIS has vastly increased the efficiency of data sharing within organizations. Any organization, including cities and states, that services multiple entities benefits from the flow of information fueled by a GIS. Different departments are able to concurrently use data to keep their functions operating at full potential.

At the city level, enterprise GIS helps organize information and provide the most current data available. Public works, surveying, utilities, and other facets of the city are able to work together to make faster and better decisions. Each department is also able to avoid redundant copies of data that can confuse users or alter the accuracy of the information.

The public is influenced by enterprise GIS on several levels. Organizations are able to respond to specific needs faster and more effectively. Cities run more smoothly and can better focus on individual problems in communities. Public information also becomes more accessible, giving citizens more information about their surroundings and conditions that affect them.

This section features articles that illustrate the utility of enterprise GIS and how it allows departments and people to work together.

For more information, visit www.esri.com/localgov or www.esri.com/industries on the Web.