Ken Schmidt has over 30 years of experience in the application of mapping and geospatial technologies to create location based information products for use by government and private businesses. He provides expertise in the planning, design, implementation, and deployment of geographically based technology systems for widespread use by an organizations operations and services. His experience in conducting location based analysis of corporate data provides executives the ability to visualize issues, identify solutions, and justify policies.
Starting with the State of Florida Water Management Districts in 1984, he developed unique skills in using maps and geography as the foundation for accessing and presenting patterns of information. Starting in 1990 Ken became the Administrator of the City and County of Honolulu Geographic Information System (GIS). Ken coordinated the establishment of an enterprise architecture that facilitates the use and sharing of geospatial data. The system is now used by all functions of local government operations, such as planning, tax assessment, infrastructure management, transportation services, and public safety to improve public services in a cost effective manner. In 1998 Honolulu GIS became one of the 1st local government GIS web sites in the nation to be deployed for use by realtors, businesses, and the public.
In 1998, while advocating for the creation of a comprehensive Land Information System (LIS), Ken began managing the implementation and operational support for Honolulu’s land use and building permitting system, aka POSSE. The processing of zoning, subdivision, site construction, and building structure permit applications are all managed and tracked with the POSSE system. Ken also managed the deployment of an Internet based system for issuing building permits. The HONline permitting system allows for the public to apply, pay, and print for simple permit types. In 2013 the HONline system generated almost $3 million in additional revenues from a completely automated building permit issuance process. He also produced a comparison analysis between issued permits and tax assessments that generated over $5 million dollars in additional yearly tax assessment revenues.
Ken is widely recognized and referenced for the work he has performed, and has published multiple papers, articles, and case studies of his program’s accomplishments. In 2012 Ken presented at the plenary session of the ESRI International User Conference to an audience of over 12,000 professionals. The Honolulu GIS program has been honored both nationally and locally, with Ken being honored as the 2011 Manager of the Year for the City and County of Honolulu. As Principal of i2 Consulting, he is currently assisting the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) in developing a Hawaii Coastal Zone Spatial Analysis Tool to support the review of regulatory permit applications in conservation and coastal regions.
In 2012, Ken traveled to Ukraine as part of a U.S. State Department American Council of International Education Legislative Fellows program to help promote the value of geospatial technologies in managing local government functions and operations. Educating others on the benefits and possibilities of using geospatial data and technology, is a primary objective in all of his efforts.
Graduated: Texas State University, 1983 B.A. Geography