Geographic Information Systems
Columbus County, North Carolina is located in the eastern part of
the state on the border with South Carolina. The county was named
after Christopher Columbus and currently has over 50,000 residents.
The county encompasses 945 square miles.
In 2001, Columbus County had inaccuracies in its GIS dataset,
problems with inconsistent address assignment, and a time consuming
and inaccurate manual procedure to assign addresses. In addition,
there was no procedure to keep vital 911 Emergency Services records
updated. Emergency dispatchers were unable to access current addressing
data in order to give emergency responders directions to a location.
Columbus County hired Hobbs, Upchurch & amp; Associates, P.A.
to update existing centerline data, verify and correct centerline
address ranges, and streamline data acquisition and maintenance
After an initial analysis of client needs, an assessment of current
GIS data sets, and an analysis of county computer systems, Hobbs,
Upchurch & Associates developed a four-component solution to
solve Columbus County's problems.
The solution proposed by HUA consisted of the following steps:
- Data Capture and Update. Capture address locations for
every structure in the county using the latest Global Positioning
System (GPS) technology. At the same time take a digital photograph
of each structure and code the picture to the address. Capture
and update all street centerlines not currently in the county
dataset using GPS.
- Data Comparison and Correction. Compare address assigned
to address ranges to ensure accuracy.
- Connectivity between Sites. Provide connectivity to
various remote sites that all needed access to the same updated
and accurate information. Connect the Emergency Operations/E911
Department with the Administrative and Finance Department and
the Tax Mapping and Billing Department. These departments were
located between ½ mile and 1 mile from one another and did not
share a common computer network. By networking each site together
a cost reduction would be realized by eliminating duplicate Internet
service provider accounts and by centralizing data storage and
access.
- A User-friendly Interface with GIS Data. To provide
a long-term benefit for the county, the computer system needed
to be a user friendly, highly capable GIS application that was
easy to maintain and update. HUA developed a custom interface
to meet the needs of the county.
Key features built into the new GIS enhancement include
- A reverse-geocoding module. This allows the county to
GPS in new roads and apply an automated addressing program to
assign individual addresses to the new road. Once the address
ranges are defined, a simple click of the mouse will provide an
accurate, mathematically defined address to a specific location.
This method is much more accurate and less time consuming that
the manual method previously used by Columbus County.
- Information on a property is accessed by typing in the address.
The computer automatically opens a picture that zooms to a map
of the correct location in the county. At the same time, the computer
displays the photo of the structure. This quick access to data
and ease of use is crucial in high-pressure situations such as
during a typical emergency call.
- Other county agencies and the public have access to some
of the information. For instance, real estate agents can search
property records and view photographs of structures. The public
can perform the same functions through web access and a public
terminal. Engineering firms can use the data to complete house
counts for the future expansion of the water system. In addition,
future layers of information can be added that will further enhance
the capabilities of the system.
The new GIS application and updated computer network will benefit
the citizens of Columbus County for years to come. Their safety will
be enhanced and they will enjoy the convenience of readily available,
accurate information on property parcels in the county.
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