Maps previously maintained in various departments of the city for the purpose of whiteprint reproduction were very expensive to produce and cumbersome to extract and replace. These maps have now been replaced by computers at both the public counters and at the desks of employees who create maps. Maps can now be easily created of the area desired. It is unnecessary to use either drafting staff or graphic artists for most requirements. Maps can now be created with only the objects of interest shown, highlighting exactly what is desired, rather than using maps already created for other purposes.
Staff is freed to do more sophisticated graphic or mapping work requiring their special expertise.
Very few municipalities in North America have set up such an extensive geographic information system. After years of intensive user involvement and enterprisewide data modeling exercises, word spread across city government on what could be achieved by GIS in an integrated environment. It has turned out to be a window into the world of digital geographic data for staff and citizens of the city. As a result, it is no longer necessary to maintain complete sets of maps. It will, eventually, not be necessary to even print most maps.