As a fundamental layer of the County geospatial framework, high-resolution imagery must be acquired on a regular schedule. The resulting imagery is used to update several other framework layers as features are built (houses, roads, etc.) or removed and as landcover (trees, water, etc.) changes. In exploiting new technologies, Richland County contracted to acquire updated imagery using all digital procedures that will result in significant savings. The County is one of the first in the country (certainly the first local government in South Carolina) to acquire high-resolution aerial digital imagery. The new process exploits inertial measurement, airborne global positioning system, and digital imaging technologies to remove film from the aerial ‘photo’ project. The new imagery was acquired April 15, 2004 and will be completely delivered to Richland County by October 15, 2004. Beyond the capabilities of traditional aerial film, the new imagery includes color (RGB) and near-infrared (NiR) bands from one source. As this project delivers 30% more data (NiR), in 30% of the time required for film-based mission, at 30% of the cost of traditional film missions, Richland County remains at the forefront of better, faster, cheaper service delivery for geospatial technologies.

Richland County GIS has invested in new data storage technologies that allow for future growth and will facilitate the large volumes of data that Richland County GIS collects, maintains, and distributes. The new Storage Area Network device adds an additional 4 terrabytes of raw storage space to Richland County GIS's existing ~1.5 terrabytes. In addition, a new server has been ordered to handle the necessary database processing to maintain a high performance centralized Geographic Information System.

Project Lead: Brian Fitzgerald

In an effort to increase the accuracy of GPS applications within the county, RCGEO has placed a real time differential GPS correction station on the parking garage at their 2020 Hampton Street office. The system will allow county employees and members of the public to download GPS correction data from www.RichlandMaps.com and post-process collected data. In addition, the correction signals will be broadcast in real time over UHF radio in the 450-470 MHz frequency range providing real time correction capabilities for applications such as automated vehicle location, routing, and surveying.

Richland County GIS has initiated a plan to locate all wireless facilities and utilize the dataset to better plan for the expanding telecommunication industry. A number of information sources were compiled into a single dataset and each facility was located using global positioning equipment. While in the field, RCGEO employees collected detailed attribution in addition to numerous photographs of each site. The dataset was then made available to the public for viewing via the Richland County Internet Mapping Service.

A network of survey monumentation is used to tie spatial data to a common coordinate system. Collectively, control monuments establish a network of precise benchmarks to which mapped features can be referenced. As such, the monumentation network is a base layer for the Richland County GIS program. The scope of the monumentation project included the development of a network of markers sufficient to reference from most land development projects within the County. Each monument includes a brass survey marker on top of a concrete base that rises slightly out of the ground. The monument data are now available online to support surveying and engineering submission requirements for the Richland County permitting processes. This project also provides a great benefit to the surveying community in Richland County.

Richland County GIS contracted with Geographic Technologies Group in 1999 to develop a county-wide GIS Implementation Plan that included participation from the City of Columbia and Fort Jackson. The Implementation Plan detailed data collection priorities, costs, benefits, and roles for the next three to five years. As the program began and Richland County became the only stakeholder, the plan was revised in 2000. Many of the goals outlined in the original plan have been accomplished and it is necessary to update the plan to ensure a successful implementation of GIS within Richland County. Geographic Technologies Group will be assisting Richland County in developing a third revision of the Implementation Plan for RCGEO focusing on data maintenance procedures, training needs, and application development needs.

Richland County has contracted with Wilbur Smith and Associates to assign impedance values to its street centerline layer in an effort to proactively prepare for automated vehicle routing applications. As Emergency Services and the Sheriffs Department move toward GIS based computer aided dispatching and routing, the street centerline layer will be increasingly important. Having each street arc attributed with values such as speed limit, number of lanes, width, and median type will result in more efficient routing and dispatching. In addition, traffic signals, stop signs, overpasses, speed bumps, yield signs, and rail crossings will be located. Wilbur Smith and Associates will be driving each road in the county and will have completed the project by September of 2004.

In an effort to promote the use of GIS technologies within Richland County, RCGEO held a two day comprehensive GIS training class in November of 2003. Over 50 attendees from various county departments participated in the eight part training seminar. Taught by Geographic Technologies Group, topics included spatial technologies, gps, remote sensing, databases, data models, software, departmental applications of GIS, and more. The information presented was very well received and has practically benefited county operations by making personnel more spatially aware.
 

RC GEO disseminates all maintained data layers via the internet mapping site, data licensing, and paper map products (upon request). Although data are conveyed efficiently using these media, casual users continue to request a simplified map product to be used as a general reference. To satisfy these requests, RC GEO is currently working with students at the University of Maryland – Baltimore County (UMBC) to produce a fold-out color map highlighting recreation opportunities in Richland County. The map will include labeled primary roads, cultural locations, government buildings, parks, and other points of interest.

The Transportation Management Section of the Engineering Division is reevaluating all County maintained paved roads in order to update its current Pavement Management System. Each paved road will be evaluated and assigned a Pavement Condition Rating based on distresses such as alligator cracking, block/transverse cracking, reflective cracking, rutting, raveling, and patching. The Pavement Management System will be linked to the existing centerline data within the Richland County GIS. Using spatial analyses, Richland County will then be able to identify existing and future maintenance needs and road improvement costs for all areas of the County. The information will be the foundation for Richland County's Resurfacing Program.

Stormwater Services is creating an inventory of all the pipes, channels, and structures that convey stormwater runoff. The locations of these systems are established using Global Positioning Systems (GPS). The effort is twofold in that it provides the County with information for maintenance and modeling. Describing the structural characteristics and surrounding environment, maintenance scheduling and replacement value can be determined. Gathering physical features such as size, shape, and slope, hydrologic analysis can be performed to verify flow capacity.

Vector Control of Richland County is a joint venture with the South Carolina DHEC (Department of Health and Environmental Control) and is charged with the task of monitoring and reducing harmful vectors (i.e. disease and pests) and controlling mosquito populations. By maintaining a close watch on breeding sites across Richland County mosquito populations still in the pre-adult (larvae) stage can be treated and greatly reduced in number. This results in fewer adult mosquitoes that could function as a source of spreading disease (i.e. West Nile). For more information concerning the Vector Control program in Richland County see their web page.  

Any geographic information system requires accurate base map data upon which all other thematic layers are built. Several of the framework layers for the Richland County GIS are being developed from a single aerial survey mission conducted in March 2000. The resulting data layers include black and white aerial photography, color aerial photography, street center lines, water body and stream features, building footprints, and elevation (2' contours). These data are currently being delivered and reviewed for quality assurance.

Click Image for IMS

To facilitate the dissemination of Richland County's geographic data, an internet mapping application is being deployed for public use. The software will allow any internet user to view all of the county's GIS data including aerial photographs, parcels, streets, hydrology, and elevation contours.

Assessment information from the current tax year (December 31, 2001) is now available on the internet for the public to view. Searching by Address or Parcel Number is permitted. Due to privacy concerns, owner searches are not allowed and names will not be displayed with property information. Information available includes parcel number, address, acreage, legal residence, building value, land value, improvements value, market value, zoning, tax district, purchase date, purchase amount, owners address, deed book and page of sale, neighborhood, year built, number of bedrooms, number of baths, number of stories, square footage, legal descriptions including lot size, and any tax exemptions that may exist.

Street centerline data compiled by Atlantic Technologies during the 2000 aerial mission is currently being edited to add address information. After the centerlines have been addressed, dirt roads will be added from Public Works records and aerial photography. Data maintenance procedures for the street and addressing files will also be developed in-house. Maintenance procedures will benefit from the digital data submission policy that was formalized and approved last year. 

For use in economic development and to accommodate future plans in 3D GIS applications, we are developing an interactive 3D model of downtown Columbia, SC. By utilizing existing 2D GIS data, we have created a “true to life” model in three dimensions which will potentially allow the public to virtually fly through Columbia from anywhere in the world using their computer. This technology can be expanded to include any area within Richland County.  

Within the GIS Implementation Plan, a program to regularly collect aerial imagery was recommended to "provide timely and comprehensive data for land use and infrastructure needs." DigitalGlobe recently launched a satellite that provides the highest resolution space-based imagery available in the commercial market. Panchromatic (black and white) imagery will depict 61cm squares on the ground while the multispectral (infrared, near-IR, etc.) data will maintain a spatial resolution of 2.4m. Richland County is the first county in the U.S. to contract data acquisition with DigitalGlobe biannually.

To facilitate the dissemination of Census 2000 data, Richland County GIS is developing an interactive web application for viewing demographics online. Using an emerging internet development technology, users can view available census tract data with their internet browser of choice. Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is an XML-based W3C standard for displaying map and attribute data online.

As a result of the 2000 Census, officials in state and local governments are redefining electoral district lines to ensure equal representation of citizens in congress and state legislatures This process is called Redistricting. The Richland County Planning Department is using ESRI's Redistricting extension to Arcview to assist in the creation of redefined county council district lines. Population information from the 2000 census provide the information to create statistical reports, charts, and to create maps of the proposed boundaries.