Program Organization

Deschutes County's Geographic Information Systems Program is an enterprise-based operation with active participation by multiple County departments. The Program has a long history dating back to 1991. Over the years the program has grown in depth and complexity and now is an integral part of many county departments and with GIS used to support a growing number of county programs and operations.

Policies for the Geographic Information Systems Program are established by a GIS Management Committee. Members of the GIS Management Committee include Department Directors from the Assessor's Office, Community Development Department, Information Technology, Road Department, Clerk's Office, County Surveyor, and 9-1-1. The County also employs a Geographic Information Systems Manager in the Information Technology Department who coordinates GIS activities and staffs the GIS Management Committee. In addition, program coordination is facilitated by a GIS Coordinating Committee. The Committee includes technical leads from active Geographic Information Systems departments. The committee serves an important role in developing collaborative approaches to technical GIS issues and in sharing information about data and projects.

Deschutes County operates its Geographic Information Systems program through a Distributed Model. Central coordination and technical lead is provided by the County's Information Technology Department. Several County Departments also employ Geographic Information Systems staff who provide direct services to meet the business needs of the individual departments. The departments are as follows:

Information Technology Department
Assessor's Office
Community Development Department
Road Department
Surveyor's Office
Clerk's Office
9-1-1

In addition to the Departments that employ GIS professionals, GIS is also used throughout Deschutes County to support other Departments, including the Sheriff's Office, Health Department, Children and Families Commission, Search and Rescue, Emergency Management, County Forester, Solid Waste, Property Management, and the Tax Office.