Mapping it: Geographic
Information
Systems
Our program, first supported by the Department of Planning but now in the Department of Information Technology, ranks in the top tier of US county GIS systems. GIS empowers users with technology that creates digital maps and data for a host of purposes, including emergency dispatching, bus routes, land use planning, tax maps, and land records. When asked about GIS, County Executive Andy Spano remarked, "Every day, throughout the County, GIS technology is being put to work to improve services and ensure good land use policies and infrastructure management."
The Indian Point Emergency GIS system assists in critical emergency response efforts at Indian Point and throughout the Count using features features such as impact assessment, pan/zoom, identify, report generation, spatial analysis, and map making.
Driven by the "IPEG query wizard," the system is used in an emergency to identify areas such as school districts or emergency response planning areas to generate lists of impacted facilities (e.g. hospitals, day camps, congregate care centers). Users can also "buffer" individual facilities to identify other affected areas. The query wizard permits additional tasks, such as selecting features by record or map, finding an address, creating buffer zones, drawing a rectangle, circle or polygon on the map, and selecting a plume model.
The IPEG Administrator will perform the majority of the system configuration using the Admin Tool, assigning, for example, whether a data layer is critical. End users will have the ability to add additional data layers to the IPEG Viewer as well as change their symbology.
Designed for deployment in the Department of Emergency Services and the
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the system will undoubtedly be enhanced
and expanded to support a broader range of emergency response program
areas. For more information on IPEG, contact Ariane Porter at (914)
995-3371.
Homeland Security and emergency preparedness initiatives have created a significant demand for GIS services used in public safety and emergency response. In addition to daily support for the mapping component of the 911 system, GIS staff is responsible for maintaining public access and web mapping applications for the Indian Point Emergency Evacuation Plan, as well as both desktop and web-enabled applications for the Emergency Operations Center. Staff is also required to support third-party software packages which are interfaced with the GIS including VRisk, DCC, and CATS/HPAC. The entire program area involves extensive spatial data development and maintenance for critical facilities such as schools, camps, government buildings, daycare facilities, police/fire stations, and hospitals. This GIS program area involves public health issues such as the West Nile Virus and natural disasters including floods, hurricanes, severe snowfalls, and ice storms. Westchester County GIS is enabling local governments to start a variety of novel GIS programs. Using the GIS Jumpstart program – which includes, among other things, access to dozens of countywide GIS data layers, and integration with the County's web mapping environment – municipalities can now delve into GIS technologies with the guidance and support of Westchester's experienced GIS staff. GIS Jumpstart includes: GIS Data Bundles: This module provides access to an abundance of environmental coverage, planimetric, and digital orthophotos from the April 2000 county base map effort, and a copy of the Navteq street centerline file which is used for geocoding (address matching functions). Data from the April 2004 countywide base map update will also be available in 2005. Data bundles are provided via the GIS Data Sharing Inter-Municipal Aggreement (IMA). Public Internet and Desktop Data Viewers: Using the County's build ArcIMS web mapping environment, municipalities can provide maps of their regions over the Internet. Similar opportunities exist for desktop mapping with ArcExplorer 2.0, a free version providing basic GIS viewing and mapping capabilities. Desktop Tax Parcel Viewer: This desktop system allows users to view local tax parcel maps and related assessment data. In addition to a mapping function, the program includes an abutters function for notifications which create mailing labels. A copy of ArcView 3.2 and local digital tax parcel data are required to use the system. The County will eventually provide an ArcObjects upgrade to this system. Metadata and GPS: The GIS Jumpstart includes training in metadata creation using standards developed by the federal government as well as demonstrations on the uses of GPS for mapping and asset inventory.
More Local News The County also set up a GIS-based Asset Management, Mobile GIS and Pavement Management demonstration for the Town and Village of Mamaroneck Engineering and DPW with Woodard & Curran. GIS staff recently developed an ArcIMS system for the City of Peekskill, which is currently under review by city officials. Similar work is in development for the Town of Pound Ridge, Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, and City of New Rochelle. Read about it: This Emergency Notification System, also known as "Reverse 911," was first used in 2001 by the County Executive for the dissemination of public information in emergency situations. The County can make numerous calls simultaneously and deliver vital information to those in an affected area. Additional development and refinement of the DCC application is anticipated, in particular with regard to accessing and utilizing more data from the central GIS database. Continued integration of the NavTech street file and address ranges is also scheduled. The DCC application allows users, in an automated manner, to identify people based on a specific “unit of geography” such as an emergency response district, school district, village, or even a flood zone. Addresses in a specific area are then linked to master phone lists upon which the “automated” calls are made. Public Safety seeks to enhance use of its criminal data to better analyze crime patterns. This GIS-based application makes vital data readily accessible by permitting the query and rendering of accident data spatially. In 2003, GIS staff successfully launched Mapping Westchester County, significantly expanded Community Facility & Services Locator and implemented an interactive water quality monitoring application for the Department of Planning as part of the Community Volunteer Mapping Program. All web mapping programs are accessible at http://giswww.westchestergov.com. GIS staff will continue to allocate substantial resources to expand GIS web applications – particularly with regard to departmental intranet applications. The Emergency Services Data Viewer will continue to be updated with additional databases as well as with expanded user capabilities for query and identify functions and map production. In addition to supporting interactive mapping programs, applications will be expanded to offer data and products associated with the countywide base mapping project, county department maps, and to serve as a portal local government GIS projects. Though much less noticeable, considerable support for Oracle and other high-end ESRI GIS software products (ArcIMS, ArcSDE, etc) is also required by GIS staff to support the County’s web mapping programs. On both a local level with municipal governments and with individual County Departments (e.g. Departments of Environmental Facilities and Public Works), GIS is initiating programs focusing on the mapping of infrastructure features such as sewer manholes, catch basins, and other street/road features. Asset management software is being reviewed for integration with the GIS mapping effort for reporting and inspection. All new and updated critical infrastructure data will be integrated into emergency preparedness applications and in the areas of bridge and pavement management. With the intent of expanding GIS capabilities for airport administrative and operational staff, this new GIS application will permit airport staff to access and view spatial datasets from a myriad of planning, facility, and capital improvement projects at Westchester County airport. A comprehensive database management plan as well as standards for consultant/contractor deliverables (CAD drawings, GIS datasets, etc) are also in development. GIS staff is reviewing new digital aerial photography which can be delivered and integrated into the GIS to augment security and monitoring programs. Temporarily delayed in 2003 due to required moves of base station hardware and equipment at 112 E. Post Road, GIS staff will now reassume its leading role in the development of GPS for data collection throughout all County Departments and assistance to local governments. Having secured additional GPS units for use in Public Works, Health, Parks and Recreation and Conservation, additional GPS expansion is anticipated in the areas of public safety and emergency planning, and transportation. Resources will be committed in 2004 to continue maintenance and development of the County’s significant investment in spatial data over the past 14 years. Full-time staff will continue to keep the data current and available in the central GIS database as well as in other County applications. On a monthly average, four to five data layers are being reviewed or updated. This is an important function and responsibility of the GIS group. GIS staff assigned to this program area will also continue the maintenance and inventory of important datasets obtained from local, state, and federal agencies. Day-to-day public data distribution responsibilities and the creation of metadata for all GIS datasets are also assigned to this staff. It is our task to provide daily maintenance, support, and upgrades to all enterprise GIS software, (including Oracle) on all platforms including UNIX, NT, Navtech and Sagent (AddressBroker) systems. Administrative work also includes day-to-day maintenance of the County’s GIS web mapping applications which include important public information portals on issues such as the Indian Point Evacuation Plan, Community Facilities and Services Locator, and most recently on Water Quality Monitoring efforts. Significant resources will be allocated to a major enterprise software upgrade from ArcView 3.2 to ArcView 8.1. GIS staff continues to provide maintenance and upgrades to the NavTech road file database. This database is central to all county GIS mapping and routing functions. Staff provides maintenance and upgrades to the PRC GIS applications in designated park offices and nature centers. GIS staff also assists in basic database development projects, ArcView user interfaces, hardcopy map production, and GPS activities.
Maintenance and upgrades are provided to the Community Volunteer Water Monitoring (CVWP) program (web mapping application) as established through the County Executive’s Office.
GIS staff continues to maintain and upgrade existing DPW GIS applications in the areas of bridge management and traffic engineering/pavement management systems (PMS). We also advise on data development efforts, GPS guidance, and coordination with NYS DOT and regional GIS initiatives.
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