State Councils and Groups
Texas Geographic Information Council In 1997, the 75th Legislature established the Texas Geographic Information Council (TGIC) as the primary coordinating body for geographic information systems (GIS) in Texas state government. The coordination role is designed to achieve cost-effective use of GIS data and technologies and to support the incorporation of GIS into state agency business functions. TGIC includes 45 members from state, local, and federal agencies, as well as universities.
The executive director of the Texas Department of Information Resources and the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board serve as the executive sponsors of the council.
Texas Natural Resource Information System TNRIS was established by the legislature in 1968 as the Texas Water-Oriented Data Bank. In 1972, after four years of growth and diversification, it was renamed the Texas Natural Resources Information System. The mission of TNRIS is to provide a "centralized information system incorporating all Texas natural resource data, socioeconomic data related to natural resources, and indexes related to that data that are collected by state agencies or other entities." (Texas Water Code, 16.021).
Texas Association of Counties The mission of the Texas Association of Counties is to provide services to Texas counties and assistance to all county officials.
Regional Councils
North Texas Council of Governments - GIS Coordinating Council Because of the high development in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), in conjunction with its members, has organized a GIS Coordinating Council. Because of the physical size of our region and the hundreds of GIS members that we serve, it is difficult for NCTCOG's GIS staff to stay in touch with all of its members. The GIS Coordinating Council is the board that assists NCTCOG's GIS staff in making decisions about all of the GIS projects that we organize and manage on behalf of our members.
Capital Area Council of Governments The primary focus of CAPCOG is to serve as advocate, planner, and coordinator of initiatives that, when undertaken on a regional basis, can be more effective and efficient. These include emergency services, elderly assistance, law enforcement training, criminal justice planning, solid waste reduction, infrastructure development, and housing and economic development.
