Summary

This report examines the use and acquisition of federal geographic information systems, which are digital computer systems designed to capture, store, display, analyze, and model data referenced to locations on the earth's surface. The number of federal agencies reporting widespread use of these systems is expected to more than double--from 18 agencies in fiscal year 1990 to 44 in fiscal year 1992. While individual agencies reported modest expenditures on the systems in fiscal year 1990, planned expenditures are expected to increase by about 60 percent by fiscal year 1992. The two largest uses for the systems governmentwide are the management of natural resources and environmental assessment and monitoring. In addition, several agencies use multiple system applications, like emergency planning and response, hazardous and toxic waste tracking, and tactical and strategic defense analyses. Many agencies have neither official mechanisms nor programs in place to coordinate their geographic information systems projects or cooperate with other federal, state, or local agencies. In addition, most agencies have not developed written policies on these systems or instructions for disposing of spatial data. Nonetheless, many federal agencies obtain system data from other federal, state, and local agencies.

GAO found that: (1) agencies reported using GIS for such purposes as natural resources monitoring, environmental assessment, hazardous and toxic waste tracking, tactical and strategic defense data analysis, and nuclear safety, health care and narcotics assessments; (2) in fiscal year (FY) 1990 54 agencies reported expenditures of up to $1 million, 16 agencies spent between $1 million and $5 million, and 4 agencies spent over $5 million on GIS; (3) agencies polled found common standards for exchanging data to be the most useful activity in developing GIS; (4) the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) promotes the coordinated development, use, sharing, and dissemination of surveying, mapping, and other spatial data; (5) the number of agencies reporting widespread GIS use is expected to increase from 18 agencies in FY 1990 to 44 in FY 1992; (6) FGDC is developing the National Geographic Data System, which will include selected spatial databases developed and used by federal agencies; (7) many agencies lack official mechanisms or programs to coordinate their GIS projects or cooperate with other federal, state, or legal agencies; and (8) most agencies have not developed written policies regarding GIS or instructions for disposing of spatial data.