MAPC has provided data, mapping, and technical assistance to its communities since its founding in 1963. MAPC’s Data Center and GIS Lab functions to collect and analyze regional data, make this data available to the public, and help build analytic capacity at the local level. It accomplishes this by responding to data and mapping requests from municipalities and citizens, completing scenario analyses, and operating the MetroBoston DataCommon website. The information and technology resources available to MAPC directly impact the 101 cities and towns, hundreds of organizations, and thousands of citizens that relies on MAPC for data, analysis and mapping each year. In many cases, MAPC’s Data Center and GIS lab are a critical link between state agencies and municipalities in gathering data and analyzing trends. MAPC has the local networks and relationships with planners on the ground as well local knowledge of the landscape as well.
Several of the recommendations in the MetroFuture Implementation Strategy involve further outreach and collaboration with local governments to help in the task of assembling and maintaining key data sets such as parcels, land use developments and zoning changes. Helping communities to better understand data, its successful collection and quantitative analysis to inform public policy and planning decisions at a local level will be an important enabler for this type of cooperation. What’s needed is direct technical assistance to municipalities. As Massachusetts has 351 communities with limited meaningful county government, the best way to do this is by having MassGIS, the State Data Center and other State departments who work with data engage regional data intermediaries. It is more effective and cost efficient for these agencies to utilize MAPC through contracts and retainers instead of trying to duplicate effort or reinvent the wheel.