The system that the Town of Bethlehem is implementing to streamline its information for employees and make data more accessible was demonstrated during the Wednesday, March 12, town board meeting.
A Geographic Information System, or GIS, is a multi-layered digital map that implements a broad spectrum of information and spatial data into an easily accessible format.
The system is currently set up as an intranet system that can be accessed by town employees and used on a view and query basis, said Jason Baum the town’s technician and GIS specialist.
`You’re probably familiar with GIS,` Baum told residents during a PowerPoint presentation. `Like Google Maps, that’s a GIS.`
The town takes information developed by contractors, such as Saratoga Associates when they helped create a comprehensive plan, and uses it to continually update the GIS. The town is also in the process of digitally scanning thousands of engineering plans and blueprints from projects into the system. Supervisor Jack Cunningham said the scanning process should take around three years to complete.
`Better informed decision making, that is really what this is for,` said Baum. `The idea is to make that information actively available in the field.`
Baum said that rugged wireless laptops with GIS could be used on site.
The system has a variety of practical uses throughout the town and is used by different departments, including Town Hall and the highway, police, water and sewer, and public works departments, Cunningham said.
`We’ve been actively building this system for about three years now — long before I got into office,` said Cunningham. `We are mapping out the entire town.`
The supervisor said the town has been investing into GIS over time and that other towns, such as Colonie and Guilderland, use similar systems. During the meeting, Baum said that Colonie was a few years ahead in their GIS and have advanced to the point were real-time information is being uploaded into it.
Baum said he hopes to bring Bethlehem up to speed to do the same.
Information such as roads and maintenance; water and sewer lines; zoning districts; topography; electrical systems; home assessments; land uses; and other types of infrastructure information are all being integrated into one database system accessible by all departments.
`In theory you could throw everything on one map, but, of course, you wouldn’t be able to see anything,` Cunningham said.
In addition to scanning maps and documents, global positioning system units, or GPS, is being used to import detailed mapping and images for things like outfall mapping, which are maps of water and sewer and storm water output from culvert pipes throughout town.
Board member Sam Messina asked how the information would get from the GIS specialists to the town workers in the field who need it.
`The town has invested a lot in this. Our problem was getting the information from the GIS professionals to other professionals,` Messina said.
Outreach and training are the focus for the solution, Baum responded.
`I’d like to do some outreach and training to different departments and also solicit their suggestions,` Baum said. `This application is more of a view and query. You need something to extract the info so [department heads] can make a better informed decision.`
Currently, the way the system works is that a specific range of data is requested and then the GIS compiles all the pertinent information and creates a three-dimensional readout of what was requested. It can also combine requests such as road deterioration and the zoning map or storm water discharge and population density.
`It’s like maps on a computer,` Baum said. `It’s easier access to higher quality information.`
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