Bloomington, Indiana – The City of Bloomington’s Geographic Information Systems team has received statewide recognition for its work on a public housing data tool designed to help residents and officials better understand changes happening across the community.
The Indiana Geographic Information Council awarded Bloomington the 2026 Excellence in GIS – Large Community award for the city’s Bloomington Housing Dashboard. The recognition honors organizations that use geospatial technology in meaningful ways to improve services, transparency, and planning efforts within their communities.
City officials said the award reflects Bloomington’s continued investment in technology that makes important public information easier to access and understand.
The Bloomington Housing Dashboard combines housing and demographic information into a single public-facing platform that allows residents, city leaders, staff members, and community organizations to study local housing conditions and long-term trends. Officials say the tool gathers information involving census data, building permits, demolitions, and other housing-related activity to provide a clearer picture of how the city is evolving.
“Receiving this award three years running reflects not just our team’s technical work, but the real need Bloomington residents and city staff have for accessible, clear housing data,” said GIS Manager Meghan Blair. “The Housing Dashboard puts census trends, building permits, and demolitions in one place so we can understand how our community is changing.”
Technology Used to Improve Public Planning
Geographic Information Systems, commonly known as GIS, involve technology used to collect, manage, analyze, and display geographic and location-based information. Officials explained that Bloomington has relied on GIS tools since the early 1990s, but recent upgrades to the city’s technology systems have allowed staff to create more interactive and user-friendly applications for the public.
The city’s GIS team handles a wide range of responsibilities tied to public data management and mapping. Staff members oversee Bloomington’s central geodatabase, maintain and update datasets, create maps, provide data analysis, and develop online mapping tools and applications.
One major public resource developed by the team is the city’s GeoHub platform, which provides residents with access to city data and mapping applications through a simplified and easier-to-navigate website.
Officials said the Housing Dashboard project was made possible through collaboration between multiple city departments. Staff from Information & Technology Services contributed technical development and GIS expertise, while employees from the Planning & Transportation Department helped determine housing priorities, identify important data needs, and guide overall project goals.
City leaders believe tools like the Housing Dashboard can help residents better understand issues involving growth, housing availability, and neighborhood change while also helping policymakers make more informed planning decisions for the future.
The statewide recognition also marks the third consecutive year Bloomington’s GIS team has received an award for its work, highlighting the growing role technology and public data continue to play in shaping local government services and long-term community planning efforts.
