"Detailed, thoughtful, and essential, David’s book, "Strategic GIS Planning and Management in Local Government" is an invaluable guide for all GIS professionals tasked with developing and maintaining a superb local government GIS."
— Patrick Baber, City of Roswell, Georgia, USA
"In these pages, David A. Holdstock skillfully crafts a set of tools that when used properly allow us as leaders to solve real problems and achieve measurable results that move the needle on the performance indicators of local government."
— Jeff Griffin, Columbus Consolidated Government, Georgia, USA
"Throughout the pages of Strategic GIS Planning and Management in Local Government, Holdstock emphasizes the value of strategic planning and offers a straightforward and systematic methodology. He delivers an ‘A to Z’ manual of sorts, with insider knowledge and a distinctive understanding of the principles required for GIS planning, designing, implementing and sustaining. This book is a worthy read for every GIS professional, no matter the current state of his or her particular GIS or their level of experience."
— Steve Hill, City of Dayton, Ohio, USA
"Whether you are implementing a GIS system for a small town or a large size governmental agency, this is a must read. David uses graphs and charts to help explain GIS to decision makers and gives you the tips you need to help sell GIS to the organization. David’s book belongs in everyone’s GIS tool kit; it will help ensure your success as a GIS professional and the GIS success of your organization."
— Robert Jessen, City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA
"Not since Dr. Roger Tomlinson published Thinking About GIS in 2003 has there been such a thoughtful and insightful discussion of GIS strategic planning and implementation. Written by fellow Brit David A. Holdstock, Strategic GIS Planning and Management in Local Government combines 20 years of GIS consulting for local governments across the globe with wit and humor. This is a must have guidebook for GIS professionals in state and local government to assist with strategic GIS planning and implementation."
— Cathy Raney, Campbell County, Wyoming, USA
"Through Holdstock’s personal brand of humor, wit and charm, this book reviews the wide breadth of GIS in an exciting and relevant fashion. …Holdstock provides direction on how to evaluate and collaborate with others in our organizations to discover their wishes and requirements; to identify our resources, targets, and challenges; and to outline our path forward in the ever evolving world of GIS. Local governmental agencies cannot simply purchase a software system and expect it to magically provide solutions. Strategic planning is vital for a sustainable GIS program! This book helps you through that entire process with easy to understand visuals and real life examples."
— Erin Reinders, City of Unalaska, Alaska, USA
"David’s book distills 25 years of expertise helping local governments to adopt and implement GIS technology into their organization and provides local governments and organizations with a tool kit for evaluating, benchmarking, and implementing an enterprise GIS. His step-by-step strategy for developing a GIS vision, goals, and objectives mirrors the process he uses with clients and gives the reader a tried and true methodology for defining your organization’s vision and setting goals that support this vision."
— Mary Martin, Athens-Clarke County Planning Department, Georgia, USA
"With a focus on strategic planning, steady funding, and the education of elected officials, the author walks his readers through his methodology for building an enduring, sustainable, and enterprise GIS for local government. I believe the breadth of Holdstock’s experience shared in this book would be a particularly critical read for a GIS coordinator considering a major overhaul of an existing GIS system, and will also hold value for readers interested in the business and management side of the GIS industry."
—The GIS Professional, November/December 2016
"Strategic GIS Planning and Management in Local Government provides details for implementing a geographic information system in local government. Both conceptual and technical issues are described and this book outlines a process that can be used to support a successful strategy. Each step along the path is described. Unique to this book is the explanation of governance in terms of GIS technology and an assessment of tangible and non-tangible benefits for a successful GIS strategy."
—3D Visualization World Magazine, December 2016