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 Table Of Contents The Joint Service GIS Partnership was originally established in 1998 to advance the cooperative effort between the US Forces on Okinawa who were seeking to develop and sustain the use of GIS as an installation management tool. This multi-service effort was sponsored by the respective facilities and civil engineers from the USAF, USMC, USA, and USN located on the island. Their cooperation in all facets of GIS development from combined training and education courses to consolidated aerial mapping contracts have literally saved the US government millions of dollars. Furthermore, their voluntary adoption of the Tri-Service Spatial Data Standards as well as their joint decision to use the Tokyo Datum have already reaped several unanticipated benefits such as the ability to exchange E911 emergency response plans with the local Okinawan fire and police and the ability to share applications with relative ease. The effort continues to demonstrate how the development of a geospatial information management strategic plan can allow multiple commercial firms to individually contribute to the comprehensive program. The success of this unprecedented multi-service, regional effort was underscored during the recent meeting of the larger Japan GIS Center Working Group (CWG) at Kadena Air Base held 24-28 Jan 00. The workshop began with Mr. Hudson Kekaula from the USA Corps of Engineer's Japan Engineer District (JED) sharing welcoming remarks and a brief history and purpose of the CWG. Several defense installation representatives presented updates on their respective GIS activities to include Camp Zama in Tokyo (Mr. Hudson Kekaula), Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in southern Honshu (Mr. Carl Nakamura), Kadena Air Base on Okinawa (Mr. Vance Hoyt), Marine Corps Base Camp Butler on Okinawa (Mr. Jim Sleutel), and the US Navy's Public Works Center Yokosuka situated outside of Tokyo (Ayman El Swaify). TSgt Ken Jordan from HQ PACAF explained PACAF's adoption of GeoBase initiatives and also demonstrated Misawa AB's web-based prototype of their Housing Application. Lt Col Cullis from IITA presented the latest GeoBase Initiative developments, followed by Mr. Ed Riegelmann who provided the group with the essentials of strategic planning for a successful GeoBase initiative. During this meeting, the CWG established a formal charter modeled after the Okinawa Joint Service CADD/GIS Center "Partnership Charter." Regarding CADD/GIS standards, the group agreed the use of a common standard would benefit all by reducing redundancy and allowing application specific features to be easily integrated and scaled into other CADD/GIS projects. It was also decided that representation from the US Forces Japan sub-unified command echelon would be sought in the future. The final day of the workshop allowed several commercial firms to demonstrate their new products and services. Presenters included Dale Dunham (G/I/S), Richard Koochagian (API), Mike Quin (ESRI), Mark Weegar & Sheila Gehani (BTG), Jena Williams, Ed Riegelmann & Toshio Tauchi (Geo Insight & ACE), Yoshikuni Hirayama (Design Power), and Chris Klahorst (PSI). The meeting closed with broad agreement that since it's inception three years ago, the CWG has made great strides in facilitating strong cross-service geospatial IT partnerships and establishing many successful GIS programs. The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Jun 00 and will be held at Camp Zama. For more information on the Joint Service GIS Partnership, contact either Mr. Vance Hoyt (Kadena AB) at vance.hoyt@kadena.af.mil or Mr. Jim Sleutel (MCB Camp Butler) at sleuteljd@mcbbutler.af.mil. For information regarding the Japan GIS Center Working Group, you should contact Mr Hudson Kekaula, USACE/JED GIS Coordinator, at Hudson.W.Kekaula@poj.usace.army.mil. Toronto e s c o r t s |
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