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Entergy and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission release a new economic development portal that relies heavily on GIS data..
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Site Last Updated
November17, 2009
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GIS User Testimony: One benefit of high-resolution satellite imagery
The AGIO intuitively knows our work with counties has impact, but the user testimony below made our day. Sometimes it’s the small things that make day-to-day struggles worthwhile and put a smile on your face... Read the full article on our Blog.
NavTeq Annouces Uptake of Arkansas Centerline File
STORY FROM Issue 10 of NavTeq Newsletter
An up-to-date map is essential for obtaining the best route, a reliable detour, the closest gas station or the nearest hospital. At NAVTEQ, we maintain a fresh, reliable map by staying ahead of change, and by quickly responding to it. As part of our ongoing maintenance program in Arkansas, NAVTEQ has developed a strategic relationship with the Arkansas Geographic Information Office to improve the NAVTEQ® map update process.
NAVTEQ uses the Arkansas Centerline File which is a digital representation of the road centerlines across the state. The file is locally developed and maintained in the counties and then each county file is integrated into a statewide database by the Arkansas Geographic Information Office. The County 9-1-1 offices are primary contributors to the centerline data so the quality of street names and addresses are assured to be high. In addition, the NAVTEQ Digital Mapping Operations teams tests the quality of the data prior to using it in their collection or production efforts.
NAVTEQ specifically uses the GIS data as a base layer, allowing for focus on the field collection of additional attributes in order to meet NAVTEQ’s high quality specification for navigation. The integration of the base data accelerates the map maintenance process in remote (inter-town) areas in Arkansas. Also, NAVTEQ has completed the expansion of Faulkner and Saline counties to “prime”*coverage level. End users will be able to travel confidently to their destination because their internet mapping portals, mobile phone applications and navigation devices are equipped with an up-to-date NAVTEQ® map. Business users will also gain business efficiencies by having the latest map via enterprise products that use NAVTEQ data such as the NAVTEQ Transport product for truck routing.
DFA Attorney for Revenue Legal Counsel Clarifies
State Tax Application to GIS Services
In recent months, there have been points of confusion
among GIS Board members regarding how sales tax is applicable
to geospatial services, with digital orthophotography particularly
in mind. The issue was initially addressed by Elizabeth Bowen,
GIS Coordinator for Benton County. Bowen raised the question,
which came to light while working on a local project, of “why
sales tax should be paid for technical professional services.”
It is clearly stated in the criteria for Arkansas Gross Receipts
Tax (i.e.: “sales tax”) that all photography services
are subject to sales tax. However, other GIS services are
not clearly defined in the criteria. After much discussion
among the members of the Board, it was decided that DFA should
be contacted to clear up the confusion surrounding sales tax
laws as they apply to cities, counties, and state agencies
for the development of spatial data.
Shelby Johnson, Geographic Information Coordinator, corresponded
with DFA to find answers regarding the issue. After speaking
with Joel DiPippa, an Attorney who provides revenue legal
counsel at the DFA, Johnson was able to have the sales tax
law deciphered and answer the Board’s questions. According
to DiPippa, Vector Data Processing and Global Positioning
System data collection (points, lines and polygons) are not
subject to sales tax. Raster (image) data processing is also
not subject to sales tax. However, Raster (image) data acquisitions,
as well as imagery data hardcopies, are both subject to sales
tax. DiPippa notes that it is important to keep the services
that are taxable separate from the services that are not taxable
when listing them on an invoice. If the services are not separated,
then the 6% state sales tax will apply to the entire sum,
rather than just the taxable amount.
For example:
Invoice
Item Item Description Amount
1 Imagery Acquisition Service $10,000
2 Imagery Processing Service $10,000
Subtotal $20,000
6% Sales Tax Applied to Item 1 $600
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL $20,600
In the example, the 6% state sales tax does not include city
or county taxes. Those taxes apply to the respective location
where the acquisition services or the imagery hardcopies were
purchased. If the taxable and non-taxable items were not separated
on the invoice example, the state sales tax would be double
what is listed above.
In conclusion, the services of processing spatial data are
not subject to sales tax; however, acquiring geospatial imagery
(both the service and the physical product) are considered
to be taxable according to Arkansas state law.
Click on the links below to view both of DiPippa's Official
Responses:
First
Response
Second
Response
KARK Highlights Broadband Initiative
Arkansas television news broadcaster Channel 4 KARK airs a
news story on the Broadband initiative. A link to the story
which aired on July 16, 2009 is located here.
Governor Designates Connect Arkansas to Map Broadband
Governor Mike Beebe designated Connect Arkansas as the state's single eligible entity to respond to an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) initiative to map broadband availability. The funding is available from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and will use GIS technology to portray where broadband exists in Arkansas down to the street and address level. Frank Scott from Governor Beebe's Office made the announcement July 14, 2009 at a meeting of broadband stakeholders.
Entergy and State Take Advantage of GIS Tools
Entergy and Arkansas State officials have created a website
that utilizes GIS technology for economic development. The
website
provides comprehensive maps and geospatial data via GIS for
its users to locate businesses and buildings within the state.
The site also contains up-to-date detailed demographic and
business information about communities and counties according
to Mike Maulden, the director of external affairs for Entergy.
The Arkansas Site Selection Center can be useful to many organizations or individuals who want to research potential areas apposite to their business needs. Users can even add the GIS application to their own websites for convenience and swift data analysis. Arkansas is currently competing with cities such as Los Angeles, New York City, Tokyo, and Hong Kong for new businesses. New businesses would bring new jobs to Arkansas, and furthermore would stimulate the economy both within the communities and statewide.
Governor Mike Beebe has publically supported and encouraged
the use of this site. He said it may provide "the impetus
... for those who are foot dragging at this juncture to speed
up their own efforts to make their community more competitive."
Beebe emphasized to a group of nearly 100 officials, most
of whom are economic developers, the importance of the Arkansas
Site Selection Center.
" If your community is not on here, if your community
is only here with half of the things that it should have on
it, if your community hasn't in effect done those things that
they can do to put their best foot forward and have it reflected
on something that is going to be viewed by site selectors
across ... the world as we have seen in recent months, then
you are going to fall behind."
Governor Beebe also urges Arkansans to inform their family, friends, and neighbors of the new site to accelerate the development process.
Shelby Johnson, the Geographic Information Office at the Arkansas
Geographic Information Office in Little Rock, says "Naturally
we are excited that Entergy and the Arkansas Economic Development
Commission are using the state's GIS data and resources in
this application. Its recognition this technology can help
make our state competitive. Sometimes I've felt our resource
was underutilized, but this changes all that."
The Arkansas Site Selection Center is an invaluable digital asset to the state and its communities. Not only will the website open doors to new potential businesses, but it will also give struggling communities the opportunity to regain their foothold within the currently fragile economy. Users can find the site at www.ArkansasSiteSelection.com. They will find GIS data under the Data Download section of the website.
Saline County Residents Access Tax Parcels
The Benton Courier recently published a news story on the benefits of citizen access to on-line tax parcel maps for Saline County. According to the article Saline County officials hope residents will be able to use the system to compare what real estate tax other tax payer's pay to the county.
Learon Dalby Tops List of 22 Most Influential GeoSpatial Leaders
Directions Magazine an on-line leader in reporting news and information about the geospatial industry recently released an on-line poll for subscribers to vote on the most influential leaders in the geospatial world. Learon Dalby, was among the elite list of 22 individuals who Directions thinks will influence geospatial technology in the next five years. Dalby is currently serving as the President of the National States Geographic Information Council a national organization committed to efficient and effective government through the adoption of geospatial technologies.
The on-line poll is located here.
Dalby works as the State GIS Program Manager in the Arkansas Geographic Information Office.
URISA-IAAO Select Little Rock for National Conference
The Urban and Regional Information Systems Association and the International Association of Assessing Officers recently announced they have selected Little Rock, Arkansas to be the host site for their popular " GIS & CAMA Technologies Conference." The conference is attended by GIS and County Assessment and real estate professionals from all over north America as well as international visitors. The event will be held March 8th - 10th, 2010 at the Peabody Hotel.
State Business Plan for GIS in the Works
Applied Geographics Consulting from Boston, MA has been selected to assist the State GIS Board, Arkansas Geographic Information Office and Arkansas GIS Users Forum in creating a statewide business plan for GIS. The project is being funded by the Federal Geographic Data Committee. The project will involve stakeholder input from all corners of the state. Day long workshops will be held in Hope, Monticello, Jonesboro, Little Rock and Eureka Springs to gather input and ideas from GIS users that will help formulate the statewide plan.
Conferences/Meetings
October 27th - 30th, 2009 - Arkansas
GIS Users Forum Tenth Biennial Synposium and Training Conference
in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
March 8th - 10th, 2010 - URISA
GIS and CAMA Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas
Training
The UALR GIS Lab will be the site of a number of classes in the next few months. Below is a list of the classes:
ArcGIS I and II classes, 9.2 and 9.3, and Python Scripting. For dates and registration information, http://argis.ualr.edu/Training.htm
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