Our fire department dispatchers have been using CAD software for many years, and adding the spatial information of a map view was a natural evolution.

The city's GIS development provides a framework to access and view different types of information.  To be able to look at a given spot on the map and instantly determine which parcels are there, how the owners could be contacted, whether there are hazards nearby and where the nearest city resources are located has been a much desired goal that can be fulfilled by GIS.  The city is also ready to move forward in building, maintaining and linking the various layers of information that are related to the orthophoto base map which was developed by the county. 

The map associated with the city's emergency dispatching system is one example of this.  I obtained a copy of ESRI's MapObjects software and began coding an application that would zoom in on a given street address and display information about the nearby parcels.  The variety of information available will grow as our database grows in the coming months.  The same is true for the variety of spatial layers, which too will be expanding through our continuing GIS development efforts.

While the CAD system is specialized, with automatic parcel locating based on incoming phone call data and the display of information pertinent to dispatchers, it is a good start towards building GIS applications that can be tailored to the needs of other city agencies including parking ticket collections and Public Works.  A GIS software tool like MapObjects allows the city to deploy useful applications with a lower learning curve and far fewer operating steps than are necessary with more powerful GIS applications for end-users. 

For more information, contact Joseph Acampora at (914) 665-2396.

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