Geographic Information Systems

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a modern computer technology developed to analyze and model our world. It revolves around “spatial data”—in other words, the presence and location of anything on the Earth’s surface. Along with the location or position of a feature, various attributes, or information that define that feature, are also stored within the system. This combination allows us to solve problems, answer questions, and address concerns by analyzing and comparing both the attributes and the relationships between spatial features. When we can visualize these relationships, we see patterns and better understand trends in the world around us.

The primary purpose of the GIS Department is to assist other county departments in providing better service to the public and streamlining their workflows for greater efficiency. The department also supports the Commissioners by providing maps and critical information to aid in decision-making. In addition, we provide maps and various forms of digital data to the public and serve as a central repository for all spatial data relevant to county operations.