J. Eric Lomeli
GIS Projects Coordinator
eServices & Innovation Technology Division
Bexar County Information Technology (Texas)
USA

Biography
Senior GIS Analyst and GIS Projects Coordinator of the eServices& Technology Innovation Division of the Information Technology Department at Bexar County (Texas).

Specialization areas include GIS Project Management, Open Data, Spatial Analysis, Historical GIS and Demographics.

Ericheld positions as GIS Specialist, GIS Instructor, GIS Researcher and GIS Officer for academic institutions and research centers, such as the Program on Mexico at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Institute of Economic Development at the University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA) prior to joining Bexar County in 2007.

With over 10 years of GIS experience, he holds a Master of Science in Geographic Information Systems from the University of Redlands and was certified as an International Certified GIS Professional (GISP) in 2009. In 2011, he was Chair of San Antonios regional GIS consortium: Strategic & Geospatial Coordination Committee (SGCC).

While at Bexar County, he has been part of the GISteam recognized with severalawards, including ESRIs Special Achievement in GIS in 2012. Known as a passionate speaker, he has presented numerous times at the ESRI International User Conference and other national and international events, including the 2013 Geospatial World Forum.

Abstract
Open Data in Local Government (U.S.A)

The concept of Open Data is closely related to Government agencies due to its connection between the “public” and “information”. Open Data considers certain data be available and shareable to everyone to use and republished as the user sees fit for their own purpose, without restrictions from such measures as copyrights or other constraining regulations. The Open Data movement is closely related to the Public Information Act (which varies state by state in the U. S. A.) and because our country was founded on the principle of self-government, Bexar County (Texas) understands the implications of serving our constituents by providing the most accurate and relevant data electronically. The Bexar County’s GIS Group (under Information Technology), adheres to Public Information regulations and is a promoter of the Government 2.0 initiative in order to increase citizen participation through innovative technologies which allow its users to access crucial information for the benefit of the community.