Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a system of computer software, hardware and data, and personnel to help manipulate, analyze and present information that is tied to a spatial location. Maps are cool and we make them.

The GIS office serves as a function for many departments within the town who already benefit from the GIS Data. Currently, there are GIS applications being performed in the Assessors Department, Police and Fire Departments as well as the Engineering and Water and Sewer Divisions in the Department of Public Works. We centralize that operation to better serve the towns’ needs and operations in the future.

GIS Layers
The department is responsible for maintaining the entire town’s GIS layers currently in the database as well as any future developed layers. Some of these layers include:

• Tax parcel lines for assessing
• Water and sewer pipes and structures
• Building footprints for utilities and assessing purposes
• Edge of pavement, sidewalks, driveways and parking lots
• Surface water (lakes, rivers, stream, etc.)
• Walking trails
• Parking meters and utility poles
• Public safety related data
• High resolution aerial imagery
• RTK GPS using Trimble R-8 rover and NetR9 base station

About the Software & Mapping
The department uses ESRI ArcGIS, Trimble Business Center and several other software packages already in use by the above mentioned departments. We produce several town base maps such as the official street map, aquifer protection, utility networks, and the official assessors maps for distribution throughout the town.