What is GIS?

GIS is an acronym that stands for Geographic Information systems. A GIS is an organized system for capturing, storing, analyzing, and managing data and associated attributes which are spatially referenced to the Earth.

GIS Is More Than Just Maps

GIS is more than just a mapping program. Here are several examples of how GIS is being used in Champaign County.

Used for Emergency Systems

GIS is used for a variety of applications including emergency management computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems. The GIS Consortium is currently working with Champaign County METCAD (Metropolitan Computer-Aided Dispatch) to implement the use of the GIS planimetric road centerlines in their new 911 dispatch system. The road centerlines will be used to show where a 911 call is coming from by typing the address from the phone company database to a geocoded address from the centerlines which have address ranges attached. The 911 dispatch system may also utilize the orthophotos as background information to the centerline map. The GIS Consortium is also working with the Champaign Fire Department to implement the use of the road centerlines in their computer system.

Assists with Assessments

A GIS database can include property records, aerial and ground photography, property lines, lot dimensions, soil data, and soil productivity index ratings in order to assist in the assessment of properties. The Champaign County Assessor is planning on using the GIS to delineate the recreational area on farm homesteads for a new state assessment requirement.

GIS parcel boundaries will also be used to intersect agricultural parcels with soil polygons to determine the precise acreage of each soil type within an agricultural parcel. The productivity of a soil type is critical in assessing the value of farmland. The GIS Consortium is also working on delineating agricultural land use boundaries to aid in meeting new assessment requirements set forth by the State.

Many other uses

The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District is planning on utilizing the Consortium centerline data in their computerized routing system as well as many other data layers for demographic analysis. The Champaign Urbana Public Health District will likely use GIS Consortium data to track health trends within the community. The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation will be utilizing GIS Consortium data as a tool to attract new businesses to the community. The Urbana-Champaign Sanitary District will be utilizing GIS Consortium Data in the process of inventorying and maintaining sewer infrastructure. These are just of few of the uses that are developing for GIS Consortium data.

For additional information about the Champaign County GIS Consortium, contact Leanne Brehob-Riley at CCRPC by phone at 217-328-3313.