The Seminole Tribe of Florida Builds High-Performing and Secure GIS

An Ongoing Partnership with Geographic Technologies Group

The Seminole Tribe of Florida (STOF) has resided in Florida for thousands of years and is the only Native American Tribe to never sign a peace treaty. They watched the world change around them and fought to maintain their traditions and way of life. They are a sovereign government with their own schools, police, and courts. STOF has diverse business interests include one of the largest cattle operations in the United States and ownership of Hard Rock Hotel and Casinos. As an independent government, they manage land, utilities, water resources, and extensive infrastructure and they need to use geographic information systems (GIS) to visualize, analyze, and manage operations.

The STOF is a large organization with offices across the state supporting the Tribe’s local and tribe-wide GIS needs. With a large network of sites, STOF needed to prioritize the performance, stability, and security of their GIS and data. STOF partnered with Geographic Technologies Group, one of the leading GIS consulting firms in North America to provide many GIS related services. An initial focus was reviewing the infrastructure and implementing a next step plan. After a weeklong onsite visit at the STOF headquarters in Hollywood, Florida, GTG was able to identify several systems and workflow-related challenges, develop resolution strategies, and implement solutions to address the organization’s performance issues. GTG worked with STOF to increase system capacity and improved security practices. Additionally, GTG worked with internal GIS stakeholders to organize the Tribe’s existing knowledge base to improve their administrative capacity.

The next step was to focus on improving data management and safety practices, extending the tribe’s capacity to administer its GIS and identifying opportunities to deliver superior GIS services to the tribe, their community, and their partners. GTG worked alongside IT and GIS stakeholders to identify data management practices, evaluate risks, and generate a prioritized data maintenance and security plan. To streamline system administration, develop Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and improve the administration of the tribe’s GIS, GTG deployed, configured, and implemented ArcGIS Monitor for the Tribe. Next, GTG met with representatives from the Seminole GIS community and leadership to better understand their GIS operations, workflows, pain-points, and goals. These insights were translated into an actionable plan for the Tribe and its business partners.

The STOF and GTG continue to work together as partners in the ongoing effort to advance the Tribe’s GIS and improve the lives of the Seminole community through improved GIS services. Currently, GTG is assisting the Seminole Tribe of Florida (STOF) to develop a CARES grant application to secure funds for their GIS Strategic Plan. GTG will work closely with the Tribe to plan, design, modernize, and implement a true enterprise and sustainable GIS.

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For more information about GIS services, solutions, and strategic planning, visit Geotg.com.