TECHnology
- Conducted user testing with students and feedback is ongoing. New geoportal will launch in June.
May Users (year over year)
May 2026 Program Update
GIS Service Models Report: Findings and a Framework for Collective Action
The BTAA-GIN Knowledge Committee has published the final report of the GIS Service Models Collaboration Group, completing a benchmarking process that gathered responses from 14 member institutions on how GIS services are structured and delivered across the network. The report documents consistent patterns including near-universal reliance on a single GIS librarian and steady growth in service demand, and identifies five areas for collective action:
- Developing service policies and user-facing documentation for adaptation across the network
- Sharing information about less commonly offered services and cross-unit collaborations
- Sharing student position descriptions and project documentation to help institutions build a case for hiring
- Building an AI community of practice around GeoAI and generative AI
- Developing a shared framework for evaluating and communicating the impact of GIS services
Read more: Read the full report >>
Program Activities
Committees
Community Engagement
- Set plans for supporting Geoportal launch: updating all Libguides on BTAA-GIN resources, creating new slide deck for the new Geoportal and Data Citation Generator, and updating Geoportal tutorial videos reflecting the new design and functionality.
Knowledge
- AI Policy workgroup established.
- Service Model Report published.
Coordination
- Coordinated Geoportal Launch timeline and needs.
- Reviewed Priority Working Groups process and updates.
Workgroups
Workgroups
Data Citation
- Planning for writing a journal article
BTAA Geoportal
This month by the numbers
Top Google searches leading to the Geoportal
- franklin county school district map
- school district map columbus ohio
- btaa geoportal
- central ohio school district map
- bass lake indiana
- idot traffic cameras
- illinois traffic cameras
- mille lacs county gis
- columbus school district map
- idot cameras illinois
Top internal search keywords
- PLSS
- Geology
- Yemen
- Sanborn
- Covid
- Rutgers
- Pottstown
- Ukraine
- 01d-05
- 01d-00
Collections
Total records as of May 2026: 117,598
Harvesting Activities
View current harvest operations dashboard.
Web Development
- Final prep for Geoportal launch