Geoenabling Federal Business Processes Continued from page 23 Increased Sharing and Interagency Coordination In addition to time and cost savings, many organizations use geospatial technology to facilitate inter- and intra-agency coordination. Enterprise Geospatial Services (EGS) facilitates spatial data sharing across FEMA by actively managing data collection, storage, and use. EGS facilitates data sharing between offices within FEMA and with other agencies, which curbs the tendency to create information silos within a branch or section. BLM developed the National Integrated Land System (NILS) GeoCommunicator to coordinate geographic data from numerous groups (internal, federal, and state agencies and tribal and local entities). Information compiled in NILS furthers cooperation across offices and assists in making land-use decisions. Additionally, EPA Metadata Editor (EME) fosters increased sharing of geospatial resources through better-quality metadata. This freely available application encourages users both inside and outside the federal government to produce high-quality, reusable metadata that can be shared with others. [For more informa- EPA Metadata Editor (EME) fosters increased sharing of geospatial resources through better-quality metadata. tion on EME, see “The EPA Metadata Editor” in the July–September 2007 issue of ArcUser magazine, which is available online at www. esri.com/arcuser.] The coordination and sharing of information exemplified by these applications not only reduces redundancy but also provides decision makers with better access to higher-quality information and encourages agencies to coordinate their efforts to solve complex problems. Automating and Improving Adherence to Standards As agencies work together, providing data and services to one another, adhering to standards becomes increasingly important. One agency tackling standards related to address information is the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD uses geospatial data, especially address information, in its everyday operations and decision making. The agency’s Geocode Service Center (GSC), a core part of its geospatial infrastructure, is a cost-effective solution that ensures the consistency and accuracy of address information for more than 17 data systems. GSC services are also used at HUD to validate addresses and match the same addresses within different datasets. GSC’s high data standards have ensured data consistency across HUD programs and serves as a model for other agencies. The The National Integrated Land System (NILS) GeoCommunicator, developed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), coordinates geographic data from internal, federal, and state agencies and tribal and local entities. 24 ArcUser Spring 2010 www.esri.com