RAPID CITY –– Users of the City’s Geographic Information System (GIS) will notice upgraded changes to the system. Earlier this month, the GIS Division unveiled a new mapping system with improved functionality.
The Rapid City GIS Division provides mapping services, data and technical support to the public and to the staffs of city and county government. The mapping data and information are utilized by professional title companies, realtors, engineers, surveyors, developers and businesses. The public often uses Rapid Map for identification and location of land parcels, aerial photos and address points and Survey Points for location of area survey points.
This is the fourth upgrade of the GIS mapping system in the past 18 years. City GIS Division Manager Don Jarvinen has witnessed the changes and improvements in the mapping systems throughout those years.
“There have been a number of changes throughout the years and there are reasons for each change, usually to make the system more efficient, with more functionality and more adaptability for the users,” said Jarvinen.
Jarvinen says it has taken a year to develop the system and credits the work of City GIS analyst Angie Tallon. He says the system will appear the same with some buttons in different places and the functionality will be different.
“We’ve duplicated the old site as far as functionality,” said Jarvinen. “This system upgrade is more efficient and does not rely on plug-ins and patches. The industry was moving towards these changes so it made sense to do the upgrade now.”
In addition, Jarvinen indicates there are system upgrades similar to Rapid Map scheduled soon to the County’s voting site and to the City’s Parks and Recreation site.
To view the City’s interactive web maps, go to rapidmap.org .
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