Gis Systems

GIS stands for "Geographic Information Systems." A geographic information system

is used for capturing, storing, analyzing and managing data and associated attributes which are referenced to a given point or place. Many local governments have begun to establish these systems for use within their borders and a GIS provides a central access point for geographic information not only for government employees, but also for web users. Austin, Texas has had a sophisticated GIS online for several years.

One advantage for a government entity in setting up a working GIS site is that it provides customers an online way to get various types of information on the web without calling or having to drop by the office, thereby freeing up employees for other tasks. The consumer gets an advantage by being able to view a lot of maps, such as zoning maps, online instead of having to purchase one.

GIS is a great tool for real estate agents, appraisers, buyers and anyone else with a need to look up information about a property, and GIS is becoming more widespread every day. If you live in a medium to large size city, chances are very good that your local city or county planning department has a working GIS right now. Even many small towns have them.

GIS enables the visitor and the real estate professional to view zoning maps, parcel maps, flood maps, aerial photos, and a variety of other information which can be viewed separately or as a grouping of layers on the same map. Most GIS systems provide an address search capability. For some types of properties it may be necessary to zoom in from a map of a larger area. Tools to zoom in and out are always provided.

In an example situation, suppose you search for a home by address and find it on the map. You can then choose from several map layers to add to it from a menu, such as zoning, parcel maps, bodies of water, and more. If you choose to overlay flood zone maps, you will be able to tell if the home lies with a flood plain. This gives the user a way to know if the home is likely to require flood insurance. If you want to know the specific zoning for the home, you can choose to have that map layer added on top. These map "layers" are mostly transparent, meaning that the original map will still be visible.

The local city planning department GIS systems and their corresponding menu systems vary according to the design and the provider, but I have accessed several in my area and found them to be more or less the same in terms of how they operate and they types of information they provide. The beginning GIS user may find these online systems a little confusing at first, but a few experiments should help you to find your way around. These systems continue to evolve to make them easier for nontechnical users to operate. The wealth of useful information they provide makes them well worth the effort to learn.

To locate a GIS for your city, go to your favorite search engine and type in the name of the city and GIS, such as " Austin GIS" in the search box. If you don't find your local GIS this way, go to the city or county web site and look for it there or just contact their office and find out if one exists and where to find it.

by: Rafael Delsol

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