Bridge in Mercer County Park
Bureau of Geographic Information Systems (BGIS)

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The GIS staff from the Division of Information Technology (DOIT), Bureau of Geographic Information Systems (BGIS) provides guidance and assistance to the various bureaus within NJDEP as well as outside agencies. Contact us if you have questions about the GIS.

Our Mission

 

The mission of the Bureau of Geographic Information Systems (BGIS) is to support and improve environmental management decisions by:

    • Providing outstanding customer service to the citizens of the State of New Jersey by providing:
      • Access to interactive easy-to-use internet mapping applications
      • Fully documented GIS data layers available for download
      • Information on GIS standards and statewide GIS resources
      • GIS training opportunities and a GIS Help Desk to answer questions from the public
    • Providing desktop GIS tools to NJDEP employees, managers, and the Management Team through:
      • Core leadership for GIS standards, applications, web content, and architecture guidelines
      • Distributing GIS software licenses, maintaining a robust website and serving timely intranet applications
      • Providing numerous training opportunities
      • Providing technical demonstrations, advice, and guidance
    • Researching and providing strategic state of the art solutions to integrating NJEMS and core DEP databases to GIS software tools and data by:
      • Keeping current with innovation in Geospatial Information Technology (GIT)
      • Instilling a dynamic vision for GIT in the NJDEP
      • Researching new developments in GIT
  • Actively pursuing funding strategies to continue robust GIS reference layer development by:
    • Developing framework datasets including, land use land cover, hydrology, and digital imagery
    • Supporting the New Jersey Geographic Information Network (NJGIN) and Geospatial Forum

Philosophy

 

The power of GIS needs to be readily accessible and useable by DEP program managers and technical staff as a desk top tool. Each program area in DEP is encouraged to have its own trained staff and equipment to tap into the GIS network. The GIS program is committed to facilitating the departmentwide use of the tool by: making GIS user friendly, maintaining a data base of known quality, providing training, and working hand in hand with the programs to enhance their knowledge and capabilities.

Responsibilities

 

  • Provide technical support to assist programs to incorporate the capabilities of GIS into their work tasks.
    This can take the form of project design, technical advisor, trouble-shooting, researching new methodology, etc.
  • Facilitate data sharing and acquisition.
    This encompasses preparation of technical specifications to guide program submissions from consultants and the regulated community and execution of cooperative agreements with outside agencies.
  • Coordinate geographic data development activities departmentwide.
    Includes activities such as, maintain an inventory of data to avoid duplication, help programs add data to GIS and oversee development of general reference data.
  • Coordinate purchases of new GIS computer hardware, software and peripherals as needed.
    This includes negotiating with vendors, purchase of departmental items (server, storage disks) and helping programs determine appropriate configuration for their needs.
  • Develop and implement training for all levels of GIS users.
    This includes a combination of tailored in-house training as well as arranging for on-site vendor training on critical topics and varying levels of sophistication.
  • Oversight and administration of GIS computer system.
    Involves both emergency and routine functions, establishing appropriate security measures and interface with vendors as needed.
  • Educate GIS users on quality assurance measures and verify quality of GIS data base.
    A key component is the maintenance of an easy to use on-line data documentation system.