Mission
The Vermont Center for Geographic Information (VCGI), a division of the State of Vermont's Agency of Digital Services (ADS), provides high quality geospatial data, services, and geographic information system (GIS) infrastructure for public use in ways that are consistent with our enabling legislation.
What does VCGI do?
VCGI oversees the coordination, procurement, processing, storage, and distribution of Vermont's public GIS data. We steward the Vermont Open Geodata Portal, where anyone can download or stream the geospatial data published there. VCGI also oversees three statewide spatial data programs: the Vermont parcels program, imagery program, and lidar program. VCGI is available to answer your questions and help you understand the many uses of these spatial datasets.
VCGI also does the following:
VCGI provides the following services on a case by case basis:
- Develops and hosts interactive map applications to increase the public's access to mappable information
- Coordinates statewide GIS efforts through the Enterprise GIS Consortium
- Develops and assists in the development of essential statewide databases
- Develops data standards, guidelines, and procedures
- Request for Proposals (RFP) development
- Project Scoping/Refinement
- Performs outreach and training to current and potential GIS users
History
Act 204 (10 VSA Chapter 8) established the Vermont Center for Geographic Information, Inc (VCGI) in 1994. After operating as a non-profit, in 2014 the VT Legislature passed a bill that made VCGI a division of state government. The goal of this change is to provide a higher level of stability and sustainability for the organization in supporting its services, which include the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy for the Vermont Geographic Information System (VGIS). Further, VCGI is charged with ensuring that all data gathered by state agencies that is relevant to the VGIS shall be in a form that is compatible with, useful to, and shared with that geographic information system. More detail regarding the historical and legal basis of VCGI can be found here, here, and here.