What is GIS?

A Geographic Information System (GIS) is an advanced computer system that inputs, edits, stores, maintains, manages, retrieves, analyzes, and outputs geographically referenced or spatial information. ‘Geographically Referenced’ or ‘Spatial’ simply means that the information can be viewed on a map and analyzed based on location and proximity. 

GIS supports applications such as emergency dispatch, emergency management and homeland security, land planning, property appraisal, civil engineering, natural resource monitoring, transportation planning, monitoring crime and accidents, public health and environmental analysis, economic development, census analysis, and much more. 

It is estimated that more than 80% of governmental functions are associated with managing information about specific locations or geographic areas that can then be utilized by GIS.

It is important to note that GIS provides accurate digital base maps, allowing different layers to be created, displayed and/or queried. This in turn, allows GIS users to lower their expenses by improving productivity.

 

About Us

The Guernsey County Enterprise GIS is a collaboration of personnel and data from the Guernsey County Auditor’s office and the Guernsey County Map Department.  

Our goals are to: 

• Increase efficiencies and effectiveness of spatial data and GIS applications
• Increase the ability of county agencies to meet their business needs.

 

In November of 2015 the Guernsey County GIS Policy Board was established to promote the development of accurate, current and readily usable geospatial data for the common benefit of Guernsey County. The board consists of the County Auditor, County Engineer and one County Commissioner.  GIS Coordinator Jim Mercer, servers as the Chairman of the Board and Deputy Auditor/GIS Specialist Amy Swigart, serves as the Board Secretary.  

The first order of business was to create a parcel layer to serve as the base for the Enterprise GIS.  The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on June 8, 2016 and upon recommendation of the GIS Policy Board, a motion was made to award the bid for the GIS parcel project to The Sidwell Company of Saint Charles, IL.  The project took two years to complete. In July of 2018, the final product utilizing the ESRI Local Government Information Model including the ArcGIS Parcel Fabric solution was delivered. The Enterprise GIS is expected to have wide utilization throughout the county making data more accessible to all users.