Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at MVRPC

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At MVRPC, GIS is one of the key components of its Planning Support System that provides a vital operating function in conducting regional planning activities. Examples of GIS activities include geospatial database construction and management, technical spatial data analysis, and map generation to facilitate a better decision making process. Further, MVRPC’s GIS program provides a leadership role in the Region by coordinating and implementing various GIS activities to share data, information, knowledge, and technical expertise with local governments and the general public.

Upcoming training sessions

MVRPC will be hosting a free training session about ArcGIS Online – Data Collection this November 17th.

Please see the event details and register here.

Past training sessions

ArcGIS Desktop

Introduction to ArcGIS Desktop Training Session
  • May 2018: MVRPC hosted a training session about ArcGIS Desktop basics on May 23, 2018. The session covered the following topics: ArcGIS Desktop overview, adding and displaying data in ArcGIS Desktop, and creating a custom map. Please click to download the instructional materials, including presentation, exercises and data files.
  • June 2017: MVRPC hosted a training session on Introduction to ArcGIS Desktop. The session covered the following topics: ArcGIS Desktop Overview, Importing and Joining Census data, mapping and analyzing Census data.
Intermediate ArcGIS Desktop Training Session

ArcGIS Online

ArcGIS Online Basics Training

GIS & the Census

GIS & the Census Training
  • November 2016: MVRPC hosted a training session on GIS & the Census. Please see the links below for instructional materials:

GIS & the Census: Part 1 - https://arcg.is/2fAwOzS

GIS & the Census: Part 2 - https://arcg.is/2fwFtn2

GIS & the Census: Part 3 - https://arcg.is/2fg2Xgb

Exercise Instructions

Exercise Shapefile Download

Regional GIS

In 2014, MVRPC launched the Regional GIS program to facilitate regional collaboration through data sharing, information exchange, and leveraging GIS investments made by each organization.

The purposes of the Regional GIS program are to: 1) provide its members direct access to MVRPC’s datasets and interact with MVRPC’s GIS to map and analyze data to meet their own needs; and 2) address regional needs through on-going coordination and cooperation amongst organizations in the region.

A GIS services flyer highlights information on some of the GIS services MVRPC can provide to communities.

In 2015, MVRPC surveyed GIS users about how they used GIS in their organizations so that we could better understand the needs that exist at the regional and local level. The MVRPC Regional GIS survey results from this first survey were summarized and are available for download. This first GIS Needs Assessment survey was conducted in May of 2015.

A second GIS Needs Assessment survey was conducted in late 2019. This survey has the same aims as the first, with the additional goal of cataloging change in GIS use and needs in the region. The results have also been summarized and are available. Over 50 GIS users responded to the survey, issued in October 2019.

THE MIAMI VALLEY GEO-SPARK

Visit the Geo-Spark site to access GIS open data, view online maps & learn about MVRPC initiatives.

The Miami Valley’s Geo-Spark offers more easily shared layers and maps, allowing both GIS professionals and the public direct access to MVRPC’s GIS data.

Geo-Spark has three distinct sections: Open Data, a Gallery of web maps, and Initiatives involving data.

In the Open Data section, users can search or browse through over 100 different geographic data sets, where these layers can be launched into new web maps or downloaded into different data formats. Data and maps are organized and tagged by different categories including Boundaries, Census, Environment, Land Use, Transportation, Web Maps and All Data.

Galleries containing over 50 different web maps are available on a variety of topics. There is one gallery for simple, easy-to-use web maps and another for more robust mapping applications. MVRPC’s new Map of the Moment showcases a web map or mapping application that is featured for a limited time.

Geo-Spark’s Initiatives section is where users can connect more easily to a featured topic. These initiatives could include data visualizations and agency projects.

GIS Contacts

Please contact MVRPC's team of GIS experts to request various geospatial data and for technical assistance.