Geographic Information System (GIS) can show many different types of data related to their positions on the Earth's surface such as streets, buildings, water bodies, vegetation, underground utilities, etc in a single map. GIS simply combines computer science and geography with the purpose of displaying, capturing, maintaining, and analyzing spatial data. This technology allows for people and municipalities to understand, document, and visualize relationships between different data as well as potential patterns in a dataset. GIS can use any information that includes absolute or relative location which can be expressed as latitude/longitude, zip code, address, etc.
Responsibilities of the GIS division under the guidance of the IT Director is to:
- Leverage our existing partnerships with MassGIS, MA DEP, MA DOT, ESRI, MapGeo, ProPheonix, Patriot Properties in order to assist other departments such as Assessor, DPW, PD, FD, Land Use, Facilities/Engineering with their work
- Assist in evaluation, development, and implementation of plans for Town applications and software relating to geographical data
- Ongoing and proactive care of Hopkinton's GIS (ESRI and MapGeo)
- Creating maps, building digital databases, performing data analysis and creating reports as needed
- Staying abreast of new GIS technology and other technologies that will increase Hopkinton's efficiency and ability to communicate information to residents
In GIS data is organized by combining location and tabular data. This allows for dynamic maps that display data differently across multiple scales or static maps which are designed to be viewed in a single scale. Hopkinton is benefiting from GIS because it allows for data to be laid on top of other types of data or imagery and reveal important relationships/patterns that ultimately lead to Town employees making informed decisions.
General MapGeo help can be found
hereMore info specific to searches can be found
here
