Geographic Information System (GIS) is a tool for linking and displaying graphical (spatial) data with tabular data. This combination allows for the creation of products and services that would be difficult, if not impossible to produce by other means. GIS allows for the management and analysis of large sets of information. In some instances, it is easier to interpret data when it is aggregated or displayed geographically. One feature of a GIS is the ability to take relational data containing the appropriate references or links (such as an address or parcel number) and represent it in a geographic context. GIS is increasingly important to support decision-making. The development and use of a GIS can be complex and expensive. To effectively overcome these, an organization must be committed to its GIS for the life of the system.

The GIS Office manages the overall infrastructure of the City's Geographic Information System (GIS). Its primary purpose is to provide GIS technology access and technical support to all employees who use this tool to perform their work more efficiently. The GIS Office will leverage the Hampton's existing data, infrastructure and expertise to implement the core elements of the enterprise GIS solution.

To achieve the goal of an Enterprise GIS for Hampton, the GIS Office will promote these core values:

• Facilitating communication between the City, its employees, and the community that is open, honest, proactive and interactive in nature.
• Providing reliable, timely, innovative, and cost-effective GIS solutions to the City organization so that the needs of both internal and external customers are successfully met.
• Providing leadership, direction, and support in the organization-wide planning and coordination of GIS services.

It is the vision of the GIS Office that the enterprise GIS Solution will continue to grow in value to city and its various departments which in turn increases the level of service and cost effectiveness to the citizens of Hampton. The GIS Office will continue to develop through increased and improved functionality and by expanded and improved data sets.

Enterprise or City-wide GIS in the context of Hampton implies the following:

• Executive level involvement and support for GIS technology. Includes identifying GIS as an agent for achieving objectives in Focus Area Strategy Plans, Business Plans, and budgetary support for Enterprise GIS initiatives and department-specific GIS priorities.
• Direct connection between GIS and the City's strategic objectives (Focus Area Strategy Plans).
• A corporate-level focus, driven by consensus, for guiding the direction of GIS investments (demonstrated by the adoption of the GIS Strategic Plan).
• GIS coordination between City departments and other governmental agencies
• Effectiveness improvements and cost avoidance realized by shared applications, hardware, software, personnel resources, and data.
• Applied use of GIS technology to improve business processes that span across the organization.
• Communication and education among users.