What is GIS?
To put it simply, a GIS combines layers of information about a place so that you can better understand that place. What layers of information you combine depends on your purpose—finding the best location for a new school, analyzing environmental impacts, viewing traffic accidents at a particular intersection to detect a pattern, and so on.
Unlike a hardcopy paper map, where "what you see is what you get," a GIS map allows a user to combine layers of information interactively. To use a paper map, all you do is unfold it to see a representation of roads, parks, school locations, etc. The school locations are represented by little dots or circles, the roads by lines, and the parks by green areas. You can not add new information to the map, or take information off the map, and you can’t change the scale of the map (zoom in or out).
As on the paper map, a digital map created by GIS will have dots, or points, that represent features on the map such as schools; lines that represent features such as roads; and small areas that represent features such as parks.
The difference is that this information comes from a database and is shown only if the user chooses to show it. The database stores where the point is located, how long the road is, and even how many square feet a park occupies. On a digital GIS map accessed from a computer, the user can turn layers of information on and off, and can pick a particular area to zoom in to on the map. Also, a user can point to a particular feature on a map and get information about that feature – information that is stored in the layer’s database table. For example, you can click on a road segment and the GIS will return to you any information that is stored in the database about that particular road – such as the road name, the length of the road segment, the speed limit, the address range of the segment, etc.
Why Use GIS?
Improved Efficiency through Integration
One of the main benefits of GIS is improved management of Encinitas’ data, and work flow procedures. A GIS can link data sets together by a common locational data, such as addresses, which helps departments share their data. By creating a shared database, one department can benefit from the work of another—data can be collected once and used many times.
Make Better Decisions
The old adage "better information leads to better decisions" is true for GIS. A GIS is a tool to query, analyze, and map data in support of the decision making process. Information can be presented succinctly and clearly in the form of a map, allowing decision makers to focus on the issues which may not be readily apparent in a tabular format. And since GIS products can be produced quickly, multiple scenarios can be evaluated efficiently and effectively.
Make Maps
GIS is often called "mapping software." A GIS creates maps from data pulled from databases. The GIS-based database can be continuous and scale free. Map products can then be created centered on any location, at any scale, and showing selected information symbolized to highlight specific characteristics. A map can be created anytime to any scale, as long as you have the data.
This is important because often we say "I see" to mean "I understand." People excel at pattern recognition. There is a big difference between seeing data in a tabular format versus seeing it presented in the form of a map. The difference is not only aesthetic, it is also conceptual—the way you see data has a profound effect on the connections you make and the conclusions you draw from it. In many instances, it is nearly, if not completely impossible to make decisions based on data presented in rows and columns. GIS helps present facts in a clear and compelling way.
How is GIS Used in Encinitas?
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) division of IT maps the City’s data so that users can link and analyze disparate pieces of information by location. By providing staff the ability to query and analyze mapped information, staff are better equipped to provide recommendations on City policy, service improvements, and future community developments. GIS is responsible for administering, creating, maintaining, and operating the City’s GIS data and applications. Daily operations include: creating customized maps for staff; performing data capture/conversion using various methods such as data entry from engineering plans, or data collection using Global Positioning System (GPS) methods in the field; providing digital data of the City’s orthophotography and contour data to the public; and providing City-wide hardcopy maps to the public.
Advanced level responsibilities of the GIS division include: the enterprise-wide focused design of GIS databases, including, but not limited to, the land base (parcels, subdivisions, easements, legal lots, addresses, public and private ROWs, etc.) and the City’s infrastructure assets (water, sewer, storm water, and other City-owned property); data capture and data conversion planning; business process analysis; training and support of technician-level staff for data creation and maintenance tasks; server-side administration of enterprise GIS software; and City-wide GIS software upgrades.
In addition, GIS is implementing some of the Master Technology Plan initiatives, such as enterprise GIS (the initiative to integrate GIS data and applications into the core business processes and systems in the City), and a GIS-centric asset management system. GIS is also helping to implement the other key initiatives, such as the land management and permitting system, and E-government. GIS has become increasingly important to the work flow processes of the City by integrating data from all departments in a visual way and by providing interactive and user-friendly mapping capabilities at the desktop.
And last but not least, as part of its efforts to serve the residents of Encinitas, GIS also sells hardcopy E-size maps at the Planning and Finance front counters. Cost per map is $20. Some of the readily available City map products are: