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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