Geoenabling Federal Business Processes Improving services to citizens through place-based approaches By Sarah Hammer, Jessica Zichichi, and the Geo-Enabled Business Work Group Have you ever wondered about the quality of the air and water in your community or what types of toxins you may be exposed to? Have you wanted to learn if adverse environmental factors were present near a home you are considering purchasing? While the answers to these questions would seem to require extensive research across numerous sources, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses geospatial technology to deliver the environmental information that answers these and other questions using a single, easy-to-use online interface called MyEnvironment. MyEnvironment is a Web-based mapping application that provides data on environmental conditions from numerous federal, state, local, and private sources. The site incorporates mapping technologies and georeferenced data to organize and display everything from Superfund sites and other facilities that report to the EPA to daily ultraviolet (UV) indexes and local water quality data. Users can find personalized information by searching by ZIP Code or address. MyEnvironment links directly to relevant data sources and presents the information in several formats, such as maps, reports, and charts. MyEnvironment is just one example of how federal organizations are geospatially enabling their business operations. Many federal agencies are using geospatially driven approaches similar to the one used by the EPA for performing business processes and accomplishing mission goals. These agencies often face common challenges: coordinating across programs, combining numerous sources of information, and addressing reductions in budget and personnel. Geoenabled innovations throughout the federal government have helped agencies streamline mission-critical functions, saving resources and improving results while, at the same time, empowering individuals to learn about issues facing their communities. This article provides an overview of some geospatial projects implemented at federal agencies as a way to provide insights into the trends, challenges, solutions, and resources that could be leveraged by GIS users across the nation. MyEnvironment links directly to relevant data sources and presents the information in several formats, such as maps, reports, or charts. Raising Awareness GIS analysts working outside the federal government may not be aware of the types of geospatial applications and data that are available and may not see how the work of government agencies relates to their daily lives or jobs. In particular, the work of cross-agency federal initiatives, such as the Geospatial Line of Business (Geospatial LoB), may not be visible to nonfederal GIS personnel because these efforts tend to focus on coordinating the activities of federal partners. However, initiatives such as the Geospatial LoB are focused on coordinating the production, maintenance, acquisition, information architecture, and use of geospatial data to reduce the cost of federal government programs; inform decision making; and, at the same time, improve services to citizens. As key stakeholders in this endeavor, the public should be made aware of the Geospatial LoB efforts to maximize the value of geospatial investments. The Geo-Enabled Business (GEB) Work Group, an integral part of the Geospatial LoB, is composed of a number of federal agency representatives who volunteer their time to assist federal program managers and executives in identifying their geoenabled business needs, capabilities, and opportunities. The GEB Work Group meets regularly to identify new geoenabling opportunities and document existing examples that may provide a foundation for expanding knowledge about the capabilities, benefits, and applicability of geospatial technologies for addressing federal agency business functions. The agency-specific stories and examples provided in this article, collected from Geospatial LoB partners, illustrate how www.esri.com 22 ArcUser Spring 2010