A common objective for each of the projects is to promote the broad-based participation of stakeholders in planning and decision making by enabling geospatial information to be easier to create, share, and use. The underlying premise is that geographic information technology can change the traditional way that local decisions are made. The goal is to better inform citizens, to get them involved in the planning process, and to enable them to explore alternative scenarios. Each of the projects makes use of GIS technology, as well as a wide range of alternatives such as the Internet, cable TV, displays at public meetings, and collaborative software to help disseminate information. The following bullets summarize the key points made to the committee on each of the four projects presented:

• Dane County, Wisconsin. This county has a long history of innovative uses of geospatial data and technologies, particularly in agriculture and land-use planning. The project aims to address inequities in the accessibility of geospatial information through a series of workshops for professionals and the general public. Among many benefits of the process to its stakeholders, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will gain a better understanding of community needs for soils data. Available at: http://www.lic.wisc.edu/shapingdane.

• Tijuana River Watershed. This watershed straddles the United States-Mexico border and feeds an estuary that is part of NOAA’s estuarine research program, the National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) Program. Geospatial information provides the common language among five overlapping projects within the NERR, with an improved assessment of flood vulnerability as a major goal. Available at: http://typhoon.sdsu.edu/tjwater.

• Gallatin County, Montana. This project aims to engage the community in evaluating options for growth in the county, which is being impacted by urban sprawl. The county contains part of the Greater Yellowstone area, with its high environmental sensitivity. This project is exploring and evaluating ways of presenting geographic information and planning options through community meetings, the media, and other mechanisms. Available at: http://co.gallatin.mt.us/planning/index.htm.