Local Governments around the world are using online, interactive maps more often to organize and store their data, create fun/helpful apps, and, as we use here at CloverPoint, land and asset management. Interactive maps and their information systems make it easier to make updates, share information, make decisions and save money and time.
The open data movement is becoming more popular as well. As government data collection broadens, more of that data is becoming publicly available – meaning more people are/will be looking at maps as a means of communicating and sharing their information.
Below are eight different examples of governments using maps to help not only themselves, but their citizens as well.
1. The District of Iowa, Columbia Getting Current and Local with the Weather
The District of Columbia launched a mapping application, Snow Response Reporting System that allows for citizens to see exactly how the city was dealing with its snow issue (30 inches of snow dropped on Iowa last winter). The app allows its users to enter an address, which then shows what snow plows did near that address within a given range of days, as well as collecting quite a bit of data about snow and the easiest way to remove it.
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2. LA Maps El Nino Resources
Throughout last winter in LA, weather monitoring experts warned the public that an El Niño system was brewing in the Pacific Ocean that looked to be one of the largest ever. To prepare its citizens, the city of Los Angeles published a map, El Nino Watch, which allows users to see both the location of resources, and decision-informing trends.
Using the app, one can explore certain aspects, such as informing them what the weather is doing around the city, where the power is out, where traffic is backed up, where they can find sandbags to prevent flood damage, etc. The app is also built straight into Google’s mapping platform, which allows for people to quickly get directions to resources on their smartphones.
3. California Dives into Air Pollution Risks
As many are aware, California is known for being smoggy all year round. Because of this, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment decided to further examine smog levels, and take a look at the prevalence of at-risk people across the state (as not everyone finds it easy to breathe in smog everyday.) They came up with the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool, which is a series of three maps; the first two examining both factors and the third combining them, which allows the state and its residents to see the places where air pollution is the biggest problem for people it poses a greater risk to. The map also offers details at the census tract level.
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Clik here to view.4. Streamlining Resident Service Info
Before the city of Manassas, Virgina, launched their map Manassas Trash & Recycling Services Application in 2014, they relied on outdated paper maps to answer questions about municipal curbside pickups. Now, using their new map, users can enter their address, and find out information such as when to put out various items on their curb for pickup. This map not only acts as an assistance to residents who need information, but also shows users the locations of resources they can use, giving them city phone numbers in case they still have questions.
5. Distributing Tools in the Hands of the Public
Around the world, tons of countries and cities have been publishing online maps releasing government data, and showcasing different city services. However, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Boston stand out as examples of maps that take the idea a step further, with each one offering an amazing amount of alternatives for users:
- Philadelphia’s map, Phila.gov/Map, allows you to view maps with data from City departments, such as future land closures, city resources and parks
- Chicago’s map, Open Grid, is a resourceful map that lets users search for certain data like potholes, food inspection reports, street closures, and more. Users can even narrow searches down to a zip code, or can draw a shape on the map and only see results within that shape.
- Boston’s map, Boston Maps: Open Data,, is open for the public to submit their own maps, such as anything from traffic data and bus stops.
6. Houston, Texas Transforms Service Inquiry Data
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Houston’s 311 Service Request Map, allows users to explore a map of service request locations based on date received. A 311 service functions is a way of bringing issues to city staff’s attention. The map offers numerous ways to narrow data down, and can disconnect many different kinds of requests so users can see whether one problem is reported more often in certain areas.
7. Guiding Business Growth
The city of Rancho Cucamonga, California, has been designing all sorts of maps through its Rancho Enterprise Geographic Information Systems (REGIS) project over the last few years, with many of the projects serving specific city purposes, like tracking code enforcement infringements and offering police a command system tool for specific events.
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One example is INsideRancho, a map which allows users to scan and search available buildings to suit business demands, narrowing results by square footage, building type and zoning. The map also has a direct connection to Google Street View, which makes it easy for users to find businesses by name or address, and to look at property exteriors.
8. Nisga’a Lisims Government
We at CloverPoint also support local governments with mapping solutions to support . A great example is when the Nisga’a Lisims Government approached CloverPoint, seeking a provider to help them update and improve their legacy (2000) Torrens title system. CloverPoint worked together with Nisga’a Land Title Office staff to implement Insight, a system that was sturdy enough to serve the government’s needs for a title system with a full range of features, yet scaled accordingly for management by a small staff and within a modest budget.
Examples in this article originally appeared on Govtech.com: 7 Ways Local Governments Are Getting Creative with Data Mapping
The post 8 Different Ways Governments Chose to Get Innovative with Data Mapping appeared first on CloverPoint.