Does Bad GIS Data Equal Hidden Taxes?

Does unreliable data and analysis result in hidden taxes in the form of higher costs for infrastructure?

1 minute read

May 18, 2005, 1:00 PM PDT

American Planning Association Executive Director Paul Farmer testifies before the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Federalism and The Census that public investment based on unreliable data and analysis may constitute a hidden tax in the form of higher costs for infrastructure.

Selected excerpts are also available on the Planetizen Tech Talk blog.

Farmer also underscored the importance of Congress supporting advances in remotely sensed data and new geographic information, which can vastly improve our understanding of regional land use and growth patterns, as well as support hazard mitigation programs.

APA also suggested that Congress provide new support for expanding community planning capacity. While geographic information systems (GIS) and scenario planning are becoming more commonplace, there are vast disparities in access to this technology and training in its full implementation.

[Editor's note: The link below is to a 100KB PDF document.]

Thanks to Milton Ospina

FULL STORY: Testimony of Mr. W. Paul Farmer, AICP Before the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Federalism and The Census

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 in American Planning Association

Technology District of Columbia

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