State and local agencies are under increasing pressure to streamline business practices while adhering to complex political or regulatory requirements. To do so, they must digest huge amounts of information, most of which is tied to a very specific geographic location--a street, an address, a park, a piece of land. As a result, GIS technology has become indispensable for most large and many small local governments.

Beyond Maps looks beyond the mechanics of the technology to show how local governments can make geographic information systems true management tools. It explores a number of innovative ways to use GIS to improve local government operations and explains the unique capabilities of GIS. Covering a wide spectrum of applications for local governments, Beyond Maps points up the key implementation issues and common pitfalls that every state or city government needs to understand.

Packed with real-life examples, this book will help you find creative solutions to local government problems, and integrate public values into decision making.