The Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors (MAPPS) urges members of Congress to reform the way Uncle Sam accounts for all his assets and liabilities. By supporting the FLAIR Act, Congress will authorize one uniform, reliable, regularly maintained geographic information system (GIS) database to manage all Federal Real Property (buildings, lands, etc.) in accordance with standards recommended by the National Academy of Sciences.
The first step to reform? Identify and eliminate the plethora of land inventories that are inaccurate, out-of date, single purpose and non-interoperable. The second step? Identify the remaining useful land inventories. The third and final step? Merge and integrate these interoperable contents into one federal cadastre, or GIS database. This “inventory of inventories” eliminates duplication of taxpayer resources while consolidating existing systems.
How porous is the Federal Government’s ability to inventory its Real Property assets & liabilities?
In December 2006, GAO reported the Federal Government failed its audit for FY 2006. This marked the 10th consecutive year a “no comment” was branded by Uncle Sam’s auditors. GAO has repeatedly (108th, 109th, 110th Congresses) designated Federal Real Property Asset Management one of the high-risk areas within the Federal Government, most prone to waste, fraud and abuse.
How beneficial would reform be to the Federal Government?
Modern GIS technology allows for improved Federal Land Stewardship. Such an inventory would assist in improved federal land management, resource conservation, environmental protection and utilization of Real Property. Other benefits derived include efficient coordination in responding to catastrophic disasters, urban renewal, open space preservation, affordable housing, and accounting for all assets and liabilities. Sound decisions will be made from one central GIS database, instead of the confusion resulting from deciphering numerous databases with different standards, data, and interpretations.
What opportunities will the FLAIR Act create for mapping firms?
The legislation crafts the implementation of one uniform multipurpose GIS database. New mapping opportunities will be necessary for “gap” analysis. Also, efficiency in local and state government contracts is enhanced as records of Federal Real Property become current and reliable.
In the 109th Congress, Representative Chris Cannon (UT) introduced H.R. 1370 which was cosponsored by 31 colleagues. The FLAIR Act received Congressional attention during two House Resources Subcommittee hearings as MAPPS provided testimony in support. Representative Cannon will introduce a revised version of the bill. MAPPS urges a Senator to introduce a companion bill. For more information, please contact John Byrd, MAPPS Government Affairs Manager, (703) 787-6996 or email jbyrd@mapps.org.
