2001 Conference Wrap Up

Municipal GIS for Rural & Small Urban Municipalities

Presented by Jim Peden, Director & Jeff Dean Specialist
Centre for Geographic Information Systems

Municipalities hold, in various forms, both extensive data sets and generalized and special purpose mapping. While that information may be held primarily in paper formats, the data can be readily converted into digital formats, which can be utilized in a Geographic Information System (GIS).

Conversion of legacy data should be approached as an Investment rather than simply as an expense. That investment allows the municipality to integrate the data from multiple data sources into a GIS application, which can be shared seamlessly among various departments. Not only is the data seamless, but also, every employee shares a "Common View" of the data. That is, there is only one view and that view is the most accurate and most current data available to the municipality.

In today's, restructured municipalities, "stand alone" GIS applications are among the dinosaurs of the GIS world. They tend to concentrate data and information in the hands of one person (occasionally few). As a result, the "stand alone" actually restricts information flow and virtually prohibits the municipality from integrating its operations. In addition, such applications severely retard both the development of shared applications and the delivery of timely internal and external data Reporting to local ratepayers and outside agencies.

Municipalities require three types of Foundation Data on which to build a GIS system:
1) Digital Base Map
2) Assessment Land Parcels
3) Primary Database (usually from CD-Roll and/or CD-OASYS).

Each part of the Foundation Data sets must be "GIS-Ready" if it is to be useful in a GIS system. In short, that means that each point, line, polygon or database must be specifically linked to an actual location on the earth's surface. Both the Base Map and the Assessment Land Parcels are placeholders for the true intelligence of a GIS system. That intelligence is provided through the many databases linked to the system. As discussed in the Maintenance section, databases are dynamic and constantly require updating if they are to achieve currency, accuracy and completeness. To fully utilize GIS data, staff require access to well structured training opportunities and ongoing GIS support service.

Consequently, it is crucial that procedures be established which facilitate the maintenance of both the currency and accuracy of the data on a day-to-day basis. By doing so, municipalities form a crucial foundation on which to build Partnerships with the Private and Public Sectors.

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