Multiyear Digital Orthophotography

Project Lead: Patrick Bresnahan

Building on the high-resolution imagery acquisition of 2004, Richland County has contracted two county-wide digital orthophotography missions for winter 2005/2006 ("leaf-off") and, upon successful completion of the first mission, for spring/summer 2008 ("leaf-on"). The resulting imagery is used to update key infrastructure data layers (roads, buildings, etc.) and compare changes in landcover (trees, water, etc.). Similar to the 2004 digital aerial photography mission, the imagery acquisition process will take advantage of the latest digital imaging technologies such as inertial measurement and airborne GPS to ensure spatial accuracy. The updated imagery will also include color (RGB) and near-infrared (NiR) from one source.

Parcel Conversion Project

Project Lead: Alex Smith

An accurate GIS parcel layer is a core component to any local government. In a world in which counties are increasingly expected to operate with speed and efficiency, a digital parcel layer is the basis for building the capacity to effectivly create, maintain and distribute land information. This layer will be a key component in the county GIS and will be crucial aspect of a majority of county business in the future. Richland County GIS, in coordination with Casdastra, Inc. of Richmond, Virginia is in the process of converting all county tax maps into a digital parcel layer. We look forward to this being the technology used to store, maintain and distribute land record data into the future, including tax, zoning, voting, assessment, garbage pickup, call complaints, and all other county business.

Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) Pilot

Project Lead: Adam DeMars / Brian Fitzgerald

The management of county owned assets and personnel in the field are difficult without knowing their location throughout the day. In addition, reporting the efficiency and effectiveness of county assets can be challenging without having temporal information such as location stored in an easily searchable database. Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) applications allow moving assets to be monitored at all times via GPS and wireless communication technologies. Software installed in the office provides an interface to the management of such assets, including each vehicles current location and status. In addition, historical information is collected and maintained for each asset and can be analyzed at any time to determine its efficiency. The pilot project consists of testing the AVL technology with a few Public Works Department vehicles. Upon its successful implementation, additional AVL projects are expected to be done across multiple county departments.

Zoning Layer and Data Procedures

Project Lead: Brian Fitzgerald / Emily Williams

Currently, Richland County lacks a central database of accurate parcel by parcel zoning designations that can be used with GIS to easily maintain and create zoning maps. There are several different departments or divisions of departments which keep track of zoning data in different ways in different locations. Current zoning maps need to be consolidated to ensure accuracy and to allow easy dissemination to the public. The goals of this project include documenting current business processes and procedures as they relate to zoning data and work flow, creating a central database of zoning designations for each parcel in Richland County, and developing improved business procedures for the maintenance of zoning data.

Online Mapping Applications

Project Lead: Brian Fitzgerald / IT

Richland County GIS, in collaboration with Richland County IT/Business Systems are working to create small online applications that have specific functionality relating to GIS. One such example is a district information application that provides users with information about where they live: county council district, voting precinct, school district etc. Click Here to open the Richland County District Information Application. Other applications we hope to make available include a Comparable Sales Analysis Application and an Online Service Request Application.

Flood Zone Mapping

Project Lead: Emily Williams

Accurate flood zone designations are key to responsible development, proper insurance coverage, and the protection of lives and property. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has created standards and requirements for updating Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) as part of their nationwide Map Modernization project. Richland County plans to participate by providing necessary data to create more spatially accurate and updated flood zones as well as incorporating digital Flood Insurance Study (FIS) data, including cross-sections, base flood elevations (BFEs), and elevation reference marks.