Summary: This report examines the use and acquisition of federal geographic information systems, which are digital computer systems designed to capture, store, display, analyze, and model data referenced to locations on the earth's surface. The number of federal agencies reporting widespread use of these systems is expected to more than double--from 18 agencies in fiscal year 1990 to 44 in fiscal year 1992. While individual agencies reported modest expenditures on the systems in fiscal year 1990, planned expenditures are expected to increase by about 60 percent by fiscal year 1992. The two largest uses for the systems governmentwide are the management of natural resources and environmental assessment and monitoring. In addition, several agencies use multiple system applications, like emergency planning and response, hazardous and toxic waste tracking, and tactical and strategic defense analyses. Many agencies have neither official mechanisms nor programs in place to coordinate their geographic information systems projects or cooperate with other federal, state, or local agencies. In addition, most agencies have not developed written policies on these systems or instructions for disposing of spatial data. Nonetheless, many federal agencies obtain system data from other federal, state, and local agencies.
