A new publication from the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), GIS Best Practices: Managing GIS (Nov. 2010), spotlights Metro's Regional Land Information System and its side-by-side evolution with land use planning, in a reprint of an article by Dick Bolen, former manager of Metro's Data Resource Center.
The article provides an "RLIS 101" view of the geographic information systems data that Metro's Data Resource Center developed along with its regional partners for the last 20 years. "Metro's Land Information System: The virtual key to Portland's growth management success" follows the role RLIS played in the region's growth management planning, key policy development and creation of major development models.
Bolen identifies the co-evolution of both growth management planning and GIS technology as key to the successful implementation of the urban growth boundary concept. He highlights the collaborative development of RLIS by Metro and regional, county and city planners, using cooperative agreements that enable data exchange and a sharing of maintenance responsibilities.
For years, Metro's Data Resource Center offered RLIS Lite – regional GIS data delivered quarterly on a DVD through subscription – primarily to local governments, businesses, utilities, nonprofit organizations and real estate developers. Today, RLIS Live replaces the DVD with web access to the GIS data along with a suite of web services, used by a growing number of private application developers.
RLIS Live supports the region's six desired outcomes by providing GIS data to inform decision-making that leads to vibrant communities, economic prosperity, safe and reliable transportation systems, and leadership on climate change.