Much geospatial spending wasted

Half of federal spending on geospatial systems and geographic information systems may be wasted, according to Mark Forman, administrator of the Office of E-Government and Information Technology in the Office of Management and Budget.

At a June 10 hearing of the House Government Reform subcommittee on technology, information policy, intergovernmental relations and the census, Forman said at least 40 agencies spend $4 billion annually on geospatial data programs. Half of the money may be wasted on redundant systems, lack of coordination and lack of standards, Forman said.

Forman said Geospatial One-Stop, an e-government initiative to change the way agencies use geospatial data and buy geospatial technologies, would address the problems.