Connecticut Has Its First Geographic Information Officer

Alfredo Herrera became Connecticut’s first Geographic Information Officer at the start of the year. The position was created by the state legislature to assist the state’s Office of Policy and Management in developing and better utilizing information for analysis, planning and delivering of services across the state. Geographic information, officials explain, can help organizations and governments make better and faster decisions using data visualization tools.

The Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 21-2 during the 2021 June Special Session establishing a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Office and requiring the designation of a Geographic Information Officer (GIO) position in the state’s Office of Policy and Management. In making the case for establishment of a state GIS Office, officials at the University of Connecticut and State Office of Policy and Management pointed out that “There is a lot to learn from our New England neighbors and beyond. Every state in New England, except for Connecticut, has a state GIS Center. This puts Connecticut at a competitive disadvantage.”

In advertising the position last fall, state officials described it as “an exciting opportunity to lead the creation of Connecticut’s State GIS Office to ultimately support informed, data-driven decisions by stakeholders across the state. Working as part of the Data and Policy Analytics unit at OPM, alongside the state’s Chief Data Officer, you will be directly involved in leveraging the power of data, analytics and collaboration to help solve some of the state’s most challenging problems.”

Prior to his selection for the new state position, Herrera was a geographic information specialist for five years in the City of New Haven, where he helped develop a business permitting portal and property research tools.  He previously served in GIS analyst roles at GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. and New England Geosystems, including work focused on “real estate and economic development, quality of life issues, crime reduction, tree cover, traffic accidents, licensing and permitting, overdose incidents, the impact of COVID-19, health disparities, and locating homeless encampments,” according to state officials.

“I liken it to modern cartography,” Herrera told WSHU at the time of his appointment. “So, it has everything to do with maps and mapping but as many things are done these days it’s all in the computer and it involves more than just places.”

The National States Geographic Information Council describes a Geographic Information Officer as a “critical position in state government,” to promote efficient and transparent government through geospatial technology applications, maximize the value of spatial data through data sharing and leverage accessible public data to expand economic investments and growth. The GIO position also can act as a portal for professional communications related to geospatial technology and consult on geospatial web applications and apps that will bring benefit to state agencies and their constituents.”

The UConn-OPM review in advance of Herrera’s selection noted that “Although individual entities across Connecticut have made excellent use of GIS, there are big data problems that demonstrate the dire need for coordination.”

Herrara would take the lead in planning and delivering location-data technology that supports “key services” for the state, officials said in announcing his appointment at year’s end. These services include planning roads, identifying dangerous intersections and preventing and responding to disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic, they indicated.

The GIO is the leader for development of high-quality GIS data for the state, including both data acquisition and creation as well as aggregation from existing sources.  The GIO is responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating all of the administrative and financial functions, operations and programs of the new GIS Office.

State officials explained in advertising the position that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are mapping technology that combines geographic data, software and human skill to explore, measure, analyze, and share outputs via maps, dashboards and applications.

GIS is used to make decisions and answer a wide range of questions throughout government, they explained. It is used, for example, to route 911 calls and direct first responders, to plan roads and identify dangerous intersections, prevent and respond to disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic and Post-Tropical Cyclone Sandy; and to manage property assets. It is also the basis for all land and real estate development that drives the economy.

Officials indicated that the existence of high quality GIS information at the state level has broad-ranging benefits beyond state governments. A wide-range of disciplines benefit from easy-to-access, high quality and updated maps and data from managing water, land and habitats to utilities, recreation and research, economic prosperity, marketing and business.

Alfredo Herrera earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Urban Planning and Certificate of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) from Arizona State University in 2010.