Projections indicated that this GIS-Based Accident Record System application and other programs may help reduce accidents by 10 percent, including five to seven fatalities annually over the next five years. Using the Sierra Permits applications software by Sierra Computer Systems of Visalia, Calif., the system and its applications are integrated with the GIS to reduce the amount of data entry for the case intake and permitting process. The cost recovery initiative has also been successful, but for different reasons. Within Riverside County, we have developed agreements and procedures to link and share our GIS with numerous cities and water agencies. We reasoned that our already-completed and maintained parcel base could be used by these entities at a much lower cost than if they had to develop and support their own database.
Time is another critical element.
If these smaller cities or water districts were to develop their own databases, it might take them one to two years. But we can literally give the data to them overnight and at a fraction of the cost that would be required to develop comparable information and keep the data current. What We Deliver Our GIS has about 135 layers of information, which combine graphic information, reports, and maps with tabular data, such as assessor's parcel numbers, road names, building permits, subdivision tract numbers and other information. Although not every layer is complete, we are able to deliver a completed parcel database, including centerlines, street names and links to valuable assessor's data, such as owners' names, addresses, property characteristics, structure type and tax rate area. The database for the unincorporated areas also tells if a parcel is located in a flood zone, which supervisor is in charge of that district, about the zoning and school districts, and whether an environmental plan is in place.