Mission
KGI’s mission is to facilitate broad and consistent access to community-centric information on Guam. In particular, KGI aims to:
– Expand access to local knowledge resources
– Improve the quality of these resources
– Elevate the role of data-driven analysis in resolving public issues
To meet these objectives, KGI retrieves, cross-checks, and analyzes public records and datasets from across local government agencies and organizations. Activities include compiling a snapshot of Guam’s existing data resources to guide the development of data modernization strategies, resources, and policies recommendations for Guam.
KGI established the UOG Knowledge Management Center (KMC) – a centralized access point to explore, visualize, and share localized data sets. The KMC provides support for public issues education, community planning, data management, and statistical analysis.
By hosting and portraying data in a way that is useful for the community, KGI expects more people to engage in reliable facts and informed debate about Guam’s development. This process will support a more knowledgeable public, better policies, and higher quality of life across the region.
History
KGI emerged from a need for better surveillance and management of Guam’s resources.
Rendering credible estimations for a variety of possible circumstances requires pre-established systems of data management and evaluation. Guam’s current data infrastructure lacks the capacity to track and measure independent developments effectively at most any level. This limits the government’s ability to produce estimates of local needs in relation to prospective activities such as the buildup. Information silos have formed in many GovGuam agencies, preventing data analysis, interoperability, and standardization across government. Calculating the potential impact of the military buildup on local communities would require reliable and extensive place-based data.
These information are likely exists, but remains largely inaccessible to even the most connected individuals and organizations. Some data sets are coveted by their creators, only released under duress. Others are unavailable from lack of resources, awareness, or incentive to share these assets with the community. Over time, storing away records in different formats and locations can lead to systemic inefficiencies, such as duplication of effort, delayed decision-making, and corporate amnesia.
Local Solutions
The potential value of Guam’s data is significant, but cannot be converted into actual value until these data resources are combined and analyzed. KGI is working with community members to understand what information is important for residents to have on-hand, as well as how they would like to access this data. With this feedback, KGI is laying the groundwork for an environment that supports and appreciates knowledge sharing and management to help plan a sustainable future for Guam.