
Connecting Communities with ArcGIS
Integrated Geospatial Infrastructure Patterns in Practice
Integrated geospatial infrastructure is the modern pattern for connecting organizations across borders, jurisdictions, and sectors to address shared challenges. Implementation starts with a strategy, followed by the pillars of collaborative governance, data and technology, capacity building, and community engagement. It is inherently multi-organizational.
Whether you call your initiative Open Data, Regional GIS, Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), Digital Twin, Knowledge Infrastructure, Digital Ecosystem, or otherwise, collaboration is key.
Throughout these guides, we use the term "OneMap" as a placeholder for your community GIS branding.
This guide provides a starting point for inspiration. It introduces geospatial infrastructure concepts and patterns, ArcGIS as a system, and offers local to multi-national examples of these patterns in practice. Subsequent guides in this collection share good practices to assist with implementation.
Concepts & patterns
Communities of practice
Geospatial collaboratives form communities of practice consisting of content providers, coordinating bodies, and content consumers.
Community of practice: Providers, Coordinating Body, and Consumers
Geospatial collaboratives are inherently multi-organizational. Although their structure varies from place to place, they all rely on collaboration among multiple parties to function.
These parties - an array of organizations and individuals - form an essential community of practice. The coordinating body (the Administrator) helps connect content providers with each other and with a broad base of consumers, including decision-makers, researchers, students, developers, and an engaged public. Geospatial data supply chains tend to be circular rather than hierarchical.
Global Ecosystem
Worldwide, a global geospatial ecosystem is emerging.
We can think of digital ecosystems as interacting information technology components that can function as a unit. Geospatial ecosystems include people, organizations, processes, content, and technology.
Like nutrients and energy in biological ecosystems, rich and diverse content flow through it – conveyed by applications that bring those data to life.
Community Sphere of Influence
Each community of practice has its sphere of influence – this is the realm of the data consumer where communities overlap and intersect.
Technology & Policy Influencers
Layered on top of this global ecosystem are technology and policy influencers.
- Policy Directives
- Standards Development Organizations (SDOs)
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) initiatives
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP)
Esri's Open Vision
From local to global, we believe that sharing, collaboration, and interoperability are crucial to addressing today’s challenges with urgency.
Integrating our geospatial infrastructure
Geospatial infrastructure is the enabler that powers modern GIS.
Geospatial infrastructure manages security, privacy, and accessibility; identity management; spaces for sharing and collaboration; and content negotiation through open standards, APIs, licenses, and marketplaces.
Like water and electricity within a physical infrastructure, rich and diverse content flow through geospatial infrastructure – conveyed by applications that bring those data to life.
An interconnected network of partners collaborate to address shared challenges
When organizations integrate their geospatial infrastructure, they can quickly and easily interconnect across borders, jurisdictions, and sectors to share and collaborate.
Alignment with the IGIF
Worldwide, the geospatial community is having collective conversations about the evolution of SDI, including successes and failures, relevancy, and what comes next. Geospatial infrastructure holds a pivotal role in these conversations, along with the explicit recognition that it needs to be integrated.
The essential role of geospatial fundamental data themes as the framework or scaffolding of modern information infrastructure is still explicitly recognized. Thus, traditional SDI concepts are folded into geospatial infrastructure, not abandoned.
Visit the UN-GGIM Fundamental Data Themes presentation for an overview of the themes and their importance.
The UN Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (IGIF) is a globally adopted implementation framework aimed at strengthening national geospatial information management arrangements in countries - in particular developing countries.
IGIF strategic pathways help organizations understand needs, take action, and achieve outcomes
The IGIF comprises an overarching strategy, implementation guidance through nine strategic pathways, and action plans at the country level. In addition, it provides detailed guidance towards 'integrating' geospatial information with other meaningful data to provide the knowledge and understanding necessary to benefit a country's national development priorities.
Geospatial infrastructure supports collaboration with a purpose. Herein, this collection of good practices and resources aligns with and supports the implementation of the IGIF.
ArcGIS system
Workflows Across the System
The ArcGIS system enables the integration of geospatial infrastructure with out-of-the-box technology and end-to-end workflows. Using the ArcGIS system, geospatial collaboratives quickly and easily interconnect across borders, jurisdictions, and sectors to share and collaborate.
Authoritative data providers produce, publish, collaborate, share, and (re)use fundamental and operational geospatial data layers + metadata consistent with the FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).
Web Services
Web services stream content on-demand
Like streaming music, web services stream content to users on-demand, based on the permissions given by the data owners. It's like the disruption we've all witnessed in the music industry. You no longer have to go to the store to get an album and bring it home to play it – today, you simply connect to your favorite streaming music service and click play. Similarly, web services, maps, apps, and more are available on-demand. As a result, users can now inexpensively and efficiently access immense amounts of geographic data.
Engagement & Delivery
Using the ArcGIS system, geospatial collaboratives build capacity and engage their communities to address shared challenges.
Working together to achieve common goals.
ArcGIS Hub serves as the focal point for many community GIS initiatives. Hub delivers not only rich content catalogs but also tools to engage communities and bring stakeholders together around initiatives they care about most.
In the following section, we'll look at how communities worldwide use ArcGIS to collaborate, engage, and deliver knowledge, understanding, and action through data, maps, and applications.
Patterns in practice
In practice, we observe several repeatable implementation patterns, including:
- Regional planning initiatives
- Foundational data initiatives
- Topical initiatives
- Whole-of-government collaboration
- Whole-of-business collaboration
- Emerging Hub networks
- National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)
- World Region Initiatives
- Marine and Arctic SDIs
- Sustainable Development Goals
The following case studies and examples provide context for these patterns in practice.
Regional Planning Initiatives
This pattern involves sharing and collaboration among regional planning agencies and partners.
New Zealand Waikato District Councils
Waikato Data Portal is a regional platform where the 12 Waikato councils share data. As stated on their website:
We believe that knowledge is power and that making data free and open will promote progress, unlock innovation and, by its creative use, result in economic value.
Each partner council manages its data, uploaded or referenced in the case of existing web services, in its own ArcGIS Online account.
Southern California Council of Governments (SCAG)
SCAG's Regional Data Platform (RDP) is a revolutionary system for collaborative data sharing and planning designed to facilitate better planning at all levels – from cities and counties of all sizes to the region.
"Data platforms should be a tool, a solution to help local and regional governments chart a course forward and track progress as well."
– Rex Richardson, President, Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)
The RDP places data and technology in the hands of local jurisdictions to support more robust community planning, provide resources to help achieve common goals, and align with Connect SoCal's objectives.
The RDP:
- Provides access to data, modern tools, and best practices
- Streamlines the exchange of data
- Establishes a community of planners, GIS professionals, and practitioners
Foundational Data Initiatives
"We have entered a moment in which siloed data can become a thing of the past. The individual work that we all do can be interlaced to form a seamless, uniform geospatial fabric of the world."
– from Weaving the Fabric , Greg Bunce, UGRC Geospatial Data Coordinator
This pattern involves organizations weaving the fabric of geospatial data. They use ArcGIS Hub as a platform for collaborative data initiatives to engage partners and organize framework data workflows.
Alaska Geospatial Council
The Alaska Geospatial Council (AGC) aims to put the best available geospatial data and technologies in the hands of Alaskans. AGC aims to:
- Build collaborative relationships
- Shared geospatial framework
- Establish governance
- Provide access to self-service tools
- Establish capabilities and literacy
The AGC Working Groups are the backbone of the Council. These groups work to identify gaps in statewide data and coordinate amongst stakeholders to address mapping deficiencies.
Alaska's two Hub sites are cross-linked: the Alaska Geospatial Office coordinates and administers the Alaska Open Data Geoportal and AGC.
NC OneMap
NC OneMap is the geospatial data backbone of North Carolina. It provides access to reliable statewide geospatial data that helps promote public safety, inform government decisions concerning transportation and the environment, and increase economic vitality in North Carolina communities.
NC OneMap comprises 37 priority data themes, including statewide ortho-imagery and aggregated parcel data from all 100 counties in North Carolina plus lands belonging to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Ontario GeoHub
Ontario, Canada organizes Foundation geospatial data (FGD) by themes makes it easier to manage and for users to discover.
Government FGD is an authoritative and trusted source for users in many sectors for mapping and analysis.
FGD are the spatial layers common to mapping. These layers include roads, rivers, lakes, political boundaries, imagery, and elevation. While the list of things people map is endless, most maps use these layers.
Topical Initiatives
Communities rally around issues and initiatives. These are the subjects and jurisdictional priorities that people care about most.
Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation
Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA) integrates information from across the federal government to help people consider their local exposure to climate-related hazards.
People working in community organizations or for local, Tribal, state, or Federal governments can use the site to help them develop equitable climate resilience plans to protect people, property, and infrastructure.
Disaster Management
Disaster management is one of the most urgent needs for geo-collaboration: preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.
In Dec 2021, a series of powerful tornadoes tore through the US Midwest, devastating Kentucky communities.
Kentucky provides an example of how geospatial infrastructure can help integrate content in a secure, collaborative work environment.
Kentucky's GIS Community has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to share data and collaborate. "That is what makes us so powerful. The hundreds of statewide data layers at our fingertips should not be taken for granted. The health and well-being of Kentucky's citizens depends on it."
Whole-of-Government Collaboration
Governmentwide or whole-of-government approaches typically involve horizontal sharing and collaboration among agencies, departments, and bureaus at the same level of government.
California State Geoportal
California needed a way to bring its many state agency stakeholders together quickly.
After just the first year, the California State Geoportal has 32 contributing partner organizations serving over 2000 items.
Their success is called an anti-silo data-sharing effort that made the portal a reality as it continues to make incremental improvements.
HIFLD Open Data
As part of the US GeoPlatform, the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation Level Data (HIFLD) Hub provides national foundation-level geospatial data in the public domain that can be useful to support community preparedness, resiliency, research, and more.
HIFLD has 6000+ community members. In addition to the public site, HIFLD offers secure access to additional geospatial data to help support missions across multiple levels of government.
Digital Atlas of Australia
The ways we live, work and learn, are ever evolving, even more so following the challenges we have faced in recent years. The rapid growth of location-enabled technologies, and new and emerging data sources are driving increased demand for real-time location data and personalised data streaming.
The Digital Atlas brings together curated and trusted national datasets from across the government into an interactive, secure, and easy-to-use online platform.
It enables anyone, anywhere to explore, analyze, and visualize location-based data on geography, people, economy, and the environment. Governments, businesses, and communities are empowered to make data-driven, evidence-based decisions about planning, infrastructure, and investment at the local, regional, and national levels.
Whole-of-Business Collaboration
Private and non-profit industries are adopting integrated geospatial infrastructure patterns, too. Whole-of-business approaches involve sharing open and secure data with collaboration among offices, departments, and divisions in corporate, NGO, and academic environments.
BP: Geospatial infrastructure empowers employees
BP deploys its One Map, a global mapping, reporting, and analytics platform that enables employees to publish and share spatial data and information. Hear how geospatial infrastructure empowers employees.
click to watch the video >>
Emerging Hub Networks
As more and more organizations choose ArcGIS Hub as their delivery and engagement system, a dynamic network is emerging.
This emerging network begs an exciting question: What new capabilities might this enable?
A Hub network is emerging as US states and territories choose ArcGIS Hub to power their statewide SDI sites (dark purple).
National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)
National Spatial Data Infrastructures (NSDI) facilitate seamless data development, information sharing, and collaborative decision-making across multiple sectors of the economy.
Ireland GeoHive
Irelands National Geospatial Data Hub is Ireland's collaboration platform for reporting on progress towards the SDGs and sharing information on SDG initiatives.
GeoHive meets the needs of citizens, businesses, and government to view maps, access data, create content, and explore a range of key themes such as housing, environment, and health.
Colombia SDI (ICDE) Open Data
The Colombian Spatial Data Infrastructure has built the IGAC Open Data opening plan. It identifies and prioritizes open data sets and their respective metadata to be made available through the ICDE platform.
World Region Initiatives
Africa and Caribbean GeoPortals build community GIS and regional capacity using content from governments, academia, NGOs, and the private sector.
Africa GeoPortal
Caribbean GeoPortal
Marine and Arctic SDI
Marine and Arctic SDI involve multi-sector collaboration among:
- Governments,
- Private sector,
- Academic sector,
- Not-for-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
- Other data providers, and more.
Australian Marine Spatial Information System (AMSIS)
This web based interactive mapping and decision support system improves access to integrated government and non-government information in the Australian Marine Jurisdiction.
AMSIS is a decision support tool maintained by Geoscience Australia that brings together information required by Government, industry and private individuals with an interest in the regulation, geography and uses of Australia’s Marine Jurisdiction.
Maritime, Fluvial, and Coastal SDI of Colombia
Do you want to know about our maritime country? In this portal, you will be able to explore and visualize geographic information about our seas and coasts. Discover the power of the maritime community in this powerful Marine Spatial Data Infrastructure (MSDI / (Maritima Infraestructura de Datos Espaciales (IDE))
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an important business driver that necessarily involves multi-sector collaboration.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Global SDG Hub Network
Hawaii Aloha Challenge
State and local SDG Hubs
Additional Resources
Want to learn more? Visit our website to explore how geospatial infrastructure enables a knowledge system of the future.
Next steps
This guide taught you about integrated geospatial infrastructure concepts and patterns, considered the role of the ArcGIS system, and explored local to multi-national patterns in practice.
Subsequent guides in this collection share good practices for new and existing ArcGIS Administrators to help you optimize your implementation, good practices for Authoritative Data Providers as contributing partners, and resources to jumpstart your initiative using the 'OneMap' Hub template.