Exclusive Interview with Jon Nystrom

By: Jose Luis Tesoro

1.- Can you present a general overview of the possibilities and the potential that GIS systems have on governmental management and some of the most popular applications within the field?

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has wide ranging application in government.  Governments are focused in managing the population and their territory and GIS allows government officials to think spatially in their decision making process.  One of the essential building blocks of GIS is collecting good data at the local level.  If you know where your people live (cadastre), where critical infrastructure is needed, where your key resources are located then you are starting to build foundation for National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).  Once this data has been collected we can start to see a wide application of GIS in diverse areas, e.g. cadastre, land titling, development projects monitoring, water and energy management, nature conservation, biodiversity, public works and services, land value assessment, tax collection, emergency response, environmental protection, defense, and  other things like health care, monitoring disease. 

2.- How do GSI impact the legislative framework among the technologically-advanced countries versus Latin American countries?

I think the best example of GIS affecting the legislative process is through the collection of Census data in the developed world.  We now know not only the name of someone living in a given place but their socio-economic background as well.  Legislators can quickly direct funding to areas in need of increased education and vastly affect entire areas in need of special help.  During Katrina possibly the worst US disaster, information like this could have been used to help with the evacuation and supporting the communities that may not be able to get out themselves.  Similar efforts are under way in Latin America and the developing world specifically looking at mapping of indigenous populations.  I also know of efforts in Venezuela and elsewhere focused on mapping barrios in order to help decide on where to build schools, clinics, and potable water stations. In the developing world, especially in Latin America, we observe that legislation lags behind technological possibilities, for example, in the collection of digital cartographic data, in the legislation about NSDI, and the public demand for digital maps.

3.- What do you believe that are the most common benefits and risks at the GSI implementation and practice by government agencies?

Once you have the data in a GIS it can be used for sustainable growth and the protection of critical habitat.  GIS and modern technology in general allow government to make informed decisions and build things like modern cadastre and 911 systems.  Unfortunately data like this can be manipulated to influence decisions as well.  There is a good book by Mark Monmonier and H.J. Blij called “How to Lie with Maps” that focuses on how people can distort reality with maps.  There have also been examples of politicians changing voting districts based on geographic data in order to help ensure re-election. A benefit would be to make better land use plans, to design the future based on better knowledge of the effects and counter-effects of environmental imbalances. There are several types of risks in the implementation and use of GIS technology by local, regional and national governments. One such risk is developing the necessary skills of the staff and its turn-around. Skilled staff tends to switch to better paying jobs. Another risk is the slowness of the planning and budgeting processes of government agencies, the mandate to select the cheapest “solution” and the technological advancement, and also the switching priorities of incoming new governments with projects that required years of planning and capacity building of staff.

4.- Could you outline the GIS services that your firm provides?

First and foremost ESRI is a software development company focused on building the best of breed GIS technology.  Since 1969, ESRI has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS, ESRI software is used in more than 300,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities.  In Latin America ESRI has a network of locally owned distributors that support their countries.  In countries like Colombia ESRI has worked with its distributor to help build out the National Cadastre and brought in resources from our headquarters in California to support this effort.  ESRI also works closely with the conservation community throughout Latin America and provide free software and support to these organizations.

5.- What are the main tendencies on GSI design, development, implementation and maintenance among government agencies?

I think it is fair to say that GIS in the developed world is firmly entrenched in the day to day operations of government at all levels.  GIS has exploded in the last 15 years and billions of dollars are spent every year collecting essential data to run a GIS.  You have satellite systems for GPS and the collection of imagery and the developing world is using in some cases these free resources, to  deploy their own modern GIS systems.  Geographic space and technology are always evolving. Most systems in the US have 5 year life cycles in terms of funding and building technology around said program.  Past 5 years with the pace that technology is moving systems tend to become obsolete and it is recommended to rethink and re-architect your solution. Similar statements can be made about spatial data.

Jon Nystrom, Federal Account Manager, ESRI.

Jon was born and raised in Arlington, Virginia.  Upon completion of college Jon moved to Stockholm, Sweden to work for the Swedish Government.  Jon has been working Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) for the past 9 years.  He works for the Federal team and has spent much of his time traveling internationally working on the projects such as the UN Habitat initiative, working to help 100 million slum dwellers be removed from impoverished situations by 2020.  A week prior to the Hurricane Katrina incident he took over duties as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Account Manger and has been active in helping with the response and recovery of the Gulf Region.  Jon works on both US Homeland Security issues and supports groups like the Organization of American States with their GIS needs.