Geographic Information Systems
GIS (Geographic Information Systems) is commonly referred to as "Computer Mapping," and can also be thought of as a Data Management System that "happens to be map-able." Within GIS, an unlimited amount of information can be tied to map features, allowing map and non-map data queries.
Within GIS, map/data components are separated into "layers." The City's primary GIS data layers consist of manmade features such as building footprints and addresses, property parcels, street centerlines, stormwater, infrastructure, and zoning, as well as natural features such as elevation contours, and streams, wetlands, FEMA flood zones, and soils. Other layers include sidewalks, bike trails, cell towers, council wards, etc. These data layers are also complemented by the use of aerial photos within the City GIS.
GIS enables a wide variety of information, previously scattered and available to only a few individuals, to be consolidated, centralized, and quickly accessed city-wide the public and by staff in all departments. These departments access GIS data via ESRI.