It replaces thousands of physical maps, covering 460 square miles of parcels, streets, sewer lines and other data, with a desktop application that can overlay one map with one or many others. Departments use the system for spatial analysis, as well as planning and decision support. For example, Public Works uses a GIS-generated map of land parcels and streets to estimate when trash vehicles on certain routes will be full, and to select optimum routes. The Police Department plans to use maps of district population density, resident demographics, and crime statistics to decide where to deploy patrol officers. GIS also enables faster response times in key areas, says Bill Bayham, deputy information technology director.
Individual departments maintain their own data.
The Planning Department refreshes zoning and census data, the Engineering Department tracks parcels, and so forth. The company has developed an Internet or intranet map server that acts as a broker between the Web server and the spatial data in the GIS system. That means that someone accessing the server through a browser can request the map server to grab spatial data and overlay it with information from a live dynamic database. ITD plans to tie the geographic information system to Phoenix at Your Fingertips. A pilot project is underway to help citizens find out about community events.