Mission Statement
The San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority is a self-sustaining regional
enterprise charged with designing, developing, implementing and
sustaining a regional, seamless GIS/GPS network for the positive
development of the San Luis Valley.
About Us
Geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems
(GPS) have become an excellent means by which to capture traditional
paper maps and information in an electronic format stored on a computer.
Imagine any traditional map; there are features present on the map
about which you may have little or no information. This type of
information is commonly referred to as “geospatial data”
indicating that the data has an actual geographic location. In a
GIS coverage, the map features are linked to the information that
describes the map feature. In addition, each map feature is displayed
in “real world” coordinates, with a choice of displayed
coordinates. A simple click of the mouse on the electronic map feature
accesses the information that you have stored about that feature.
Many “layers” of information can be portrayed simultaneously
allowing the user to combine information to either create a new
map or to perform analytical tasks. A simple example is a proximity
analysis. You may wish to know how many houses are for sale within
a five-mile radius of a school. GIS coverages can rapidly indicate
not only the number of houses for sale within the specified area,
but their location as well.
Global positioning systems allow an operator to collect real
world coordinates of any physical feature. These coordinates can
then be loaded into the GIS coverage along with other information
collected and place the specific feature in its proper place geographically.
In an ideal world, GIS coverages are seamless across a wide region
providing all users with consistent displays and information without
wasteful duplication. Such to achieve this “ideal world”,
a central developer, implementers, and maintainer of the geospatial
data ensures the consistency and lack of duplication.
The San Luis Valley County Commissioners Association representing
the County Commissioners from the counties of Alamosa, Conejos,
Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache, created the San Luis
Valley GIS/GPS Authority in 1996 under Colorado Revised Statutes
29-1-203. “SLV GIS” is a self-sustaining enterprise
designed to enhance local governments, private citizens, businesses,
special districts, state and federal governments without being an
additional tax burden to the citizens. The structure of SLV GIS
consists of a Board composed of two regular members and one alternate
member from each county appointed by the appropriate county commissioners,
along with two at-large Board members. Please see our “Board
Members” page for our current Board. In 1997 SLV GIS undertook
a Needs Assessment and Implementation study and opened its office
in 1998. Since early 1999, the Authority has been working with the
six counties converting spatial data into GIS coverages. In addition,
SLV GIS has developed many partnerships across the region developing
and maintaining geospatial data.
Currently SLV GIS has a staff of two full-time employees. We offer
scanning, digitizing, data conversion, specialty maps, spatial analyses
and GPS services. Stop by our office at 419 San Juan Avenue, Alamosa
for more information, or contact us through our web site.
Executive Director/Coordinator:
Dr. A.W. (Pete) Magee
Dr. A.W. (Pete) Magee received his Ph.D. in Physical Geography
from Oxford University in 1989. Pete began teaching at Adams State
College in 1990 in the Department of Geology & Environmental
Science. During his tenure at ASC, Pete implemented GIS curriculum
and began to stimulate interest within the county governments to
utilize GIS. During summers, Pete worked for a local engineering
firm as a rodman, learning which way north is daily, and how far
2 tenths really is! Pete left ASC in 1997 as Head of Department
and Chair of the New Science and Math Building committee. Pete became
the Coordinator for the San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority in 1998.
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