First GIS maturity benchmarking initiative launches for Canada’s public sector organizations
The Geospatial Maturity Index (GMI) is the latest addition to the suite of public sector benchmarking initiatives developed by the Public Sector Digest (PSD). The GMI will serve to audit existing GIS programs in Canada and allow participating public sector organizations to compare themselves against their peer groups and track their progress over time based on specific core competencies.
PSD is a trusted Canadian research and consulting organization with more than 15 years of experience providing all levels of government with timely research and insights. Due to the tremendous success of PSD’s Open Cities Index (OCI) – a benchmarking initiative for municipal open data programs now in its fourth year – GIS practitioners approached PSD with the idea to launch a similar benchmarking initiative for GIS programs.
GEOSPATIAL MATURITY INDEX
The Geospatial Maturity Index (GMI) is the first GIS performance measurement tool of it’s kind, serving as a starting point for public sector organizations looking to compare their GIS maturity with other public sector organizations across Canada, and now the world. The GMI is not an overly technical assessment of GIS systems, but rather an assessment of GIS maturity and capacity.
The GMI uses 77 survey questions to capture the GIS maturity of respondents within three categories: Readiness, Implementation, and Impact. The results of this survey will be analyzed and scored according to a predetermined scoring methodology. Each respondent receives a complimentary maturity assessment report, and the aggregated results across all respondents will be published in a public report July 23rd. The deadline to complete the survey is July 6th. The survey results will provide GIS coordinators with the data needed to advocate for program changes, for additional funding and resources, or simply for greater buy-in for geospatial initiatives. 
GMI PARTICIPATION
GMI survey participants as of June 26, 2018
PSD has received an overwhelming response to the GMI survey thus far, and the breadth of participation across Canadian public sector organizations is significant, including police departments, school boards, and conservation authorities.
To access the GMI Survey please click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/geospatialmaturity2018
Accompanying the GMI Survey, is a walk-through guide that includes the methodology (scoring) and the survey questions to assist with survey completion.
TESTIMONIALS
Stacey Corbett, GIS Manager, Parkland County
“Parkland County completed the GMI survey as a baseline. We want to see where we are right now and how we stack up against other municipalities our size. The GMI survey results may also be utilized when developing budget initiatives and/or staffing requests to help with buy in and approvals. The survey is a valuable tool for us that was well worth the time to complete.” – Justin Ngan, Manager, GIS & Analytics, City of Edmonton
“Completing the survey was important for the industry, but it was also a great opportunity to reflect on the things that we were doing and our plans. I encourage others to complete the survey so that we can further the maturity of GIS and garner the support and resources that are required.”
For more information on the GMI and to receive the survey accompaniments contact:
Linda Wilson, Lead, Business Development
PSD Performance Benchmarking
519 690 2565 ext 2715
lwilson@psdrcs.com
https://psdrcs.com/geospatial-maturity-index/
