CIO Thinks like Startup CEO and other Government GIS News

Jonathan Feldman is the chief information officer for the city of Asheville, NC. He keeps computer networks and technology working for both staffers and citizens. And, he thinks of his team as a startup. He encourages testing and piloting to see what works.

For instance, GIS analysts in his department tried a small pilot project with city brush truck drivers. Just by checking the odometer and then running a route optimization program on the pickup addresses, they discovered how to cut down an average of 40 percent in mileage, saving gas and, of course, taxpayer dollars.

organized the city’s first Open Data Day, bringing together academics, techies, journalists, citizens and other advocates to think up new ways to make public records readily available online. “If it’s an open record, let’s make it open data.”

A planned upgrade to 159 Doppler radar stations across the nation to Dual-Polarization includes the system for the National Weather Service Corpus Christi, which is located at the Corpus Christi International Airport. This upgrade will essentially allow meteorologists the ability to more accurately provide details about rain, snow, ice, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes.