West Virginia State GIS Technical Center: To provide focus, direction and leadership to users of geographic information systems (GIS), digital mapping and remote sensing within the State of West Virginia Mandate On April 23 1998, Governor Cecil Underwood dedicated the West Virginia State Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technical Center in new laboratory facilities in the Department of Geology and Geography at West Virginia University. The State GIS Technical Center was established under Executive Order No. 4-93 in November 1993, which specified that the Technical Center should provide technical support services to support the development and operation of GIS in West Virginia. Objectives - Reduce the duplication of data development efforts among organizations - Catalog and distribute GIS spatial data and information free-of-charge through the Internet - Coordinate acquisition of new data additions to the West Virginia Spatial Data Infrastructure - Assist with strategic planning, development and implementation of statewide mapping guidelines - Provide advisory services and training programs in the field of geographic information science - Conduct research and provide education towards improvement of geographic information technologies