Our Town: A GIS Story

The Local Government of Hernando County, Florida developed automation techniques for improved data management more than twenty years ago. The need for spatial data soon developed for many County programs due to the sudden and sustained population growth and the corresponding housing and community development.

The need for spacial data management emerged in the mid 1980's due to this development. Hernando County like Florida grew due to lower housing costs, lower wages for a labor force, the great climate, the natural communities, and the coast line. However, we've transformed the charm of "Old Florida" settlements into the busy places most of us left for the same reason.

A sudden influx of people triggered all kinds of developments, land plats, and construction plans. All the necessary environmental mitigation regulated the change from landscape to town scape as the rule. The Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and a host of other local, state and federal regulatory bodies regulate the new and old development in Florida communities.

Hernando County anticipated the technology needs, however, the early years were problematic due to the rudimentary technology, high cost, and some departmental conflicts. The cadastral base map with permissions to share the data was the major source of incongruity in the County.

Mapping data resources weren't accessible to County Departments until seven years ago; we didn't provide any local data mapping for State projects such as the Suncoast Parkway. The irony was that the FDOT had every mapping software available without any local data mapping!

In 1987 the data mapping effort was clearly not the collaborative effort as presented to the Governing Board for funding. The major inconsistency involved no agreement on the base map. The Planning Department decided a USGS quadrangle format with data tables for each theme.

The Office of the Property Appraiser developed independently on the same mapping system. They developed the cadastral map from the available, unrectified FDOR air photo enlargements provided by the FDOR.

The County Engineer remained on AutoCAD for the scale, accuracy and precision required which matters to a point in GIS while the Technology folks wanted to stay in a DOS, BTOS/CTOS world. The usual arguments continued over scale and accuracy, platforms and operating systems. So everyone was relieved we didn't have to work together as a GIS Team!

Back then we didn't observe scale and accuracy requirements of the National Map Accuracy Standards (NMAS), not until recently with the National Standard for Spatial Data Accuracy (NSSDA). The electronic mapping software transformed the sectional and quadrangle formatted maps with measured corner coordinates to the new map extent. So we transformed the base map with a consistent "stretch" to the four map corners; the outcome was better than silly putty but we transformed the accuracy too! By the way this was not an Esri product.

Horizontal control relates to survey data applied to the cadastral base which we began in the 90's. By Florida Statute the base map remains the responsibility of the Property Appraiser. We also discussed the advantages of term limits during the years of impasse as departments developed various base maps, different systems, platforms, input scales and projections to work on projects.

From 1986 to 1994 the Property Appraiser used the Manitron and then converted the data to Esri; the Planning Department used the Manitron from 1987 to 1991; after the data impasse we installed AutoCAD in '91; the closed environment finally opened after a few welcome retirements and new elections; Planning purchased Arc/Info in '95 and dropped AutoCad in '97, this was the reconstruction era; the DPW/Pavement Management began on AutoCAD followed by MapInfo in '94 to present; the transition to ArcGIS will begin this year; the MPO began with Atlas GIS in '94 and switched to Esri/ArcView 3.2 by '97; the transition to Esri began as software and hardware costs were lowered and performance and abilities improved.

Software compatibility doesn't compensate for the mind set in an organization. This mind set may prevent network participation in a mapping system; the nature of mapping involves participation and integration of all mapping resources; the satisfaction of a few reticent "gurus" hinders the higher standard needed in a County GIS. Despite a closed shop arrangement, the departments may still complete all assignments although with some redundancy in data gathering. We selected the available data from several agencies and universities for the County system. The County and the State of Florida project and manage various base maps and themes; software developers improve the relational data base compatibility. The latest Oracle release will improve the relational data base with the various mapping projections. The software will connect us without the need for charismatic intervention between departments.

We now have digital orthophoto images through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); these photos weren't available until several years ago. In 1987 a grant proposal for a new set of DOQQS (digital orthophoto quarter quadrangles) were considered an essential base map construction tool. However, the local thought in the County was until the software and the State of Florida supported the DOQQS, the County wouldn't develop rectified digital photo program; the State did provide the DOQQS through the DEP and the WMD in 1995.

The Appraiser put the new cadastral base map on the system in 2001; attention to cartographic principles was excellent. A smooth transition wasn't forthcoming since the new base displaced all previously developed overlay themes. We were provided a new base with a partial coverage of the County and better quality double precision. We will provide a better Online GIS service after completion of the new base and all necessary overlay themes.

The primary concern of everyone in the GIS group involves the theme transfer to the new base. The recent adoption of the digital Zoning by the BCC was based on the framework of the original base map, not the new cadastral base. The sudden replacement of the old base postponed the effective date of an Online GIS service. A transition plan to maintain the old base until completion of the new base wouldn't affect County operations as much. Nonetheless, we compromise and flip old base, new base and overlay themes for the subject presentation and information needs until completion of the new base and overlay themes.

Some of these recurring departmental problems raised concern over the years on the ability to provide and maintain integrated geographic information for an eventual Online GIS; the ability to work as a team never leads to better discussions by ultimatum. The ArcExplorers realize the importance and impact of a base map change. We still flip to the old and new base for the appearance and information provided by the two bases respectively. Reporting any base changes to all users needs more emphasis for better communication. Attention to cartographic standards will allow us to work more efficiently and economically in the County and on the Internet. For the first time in Hernando County government, everyone will work from the same cadastral base!

The need to fudge thick line weights to compensate for map accuracy, i.e., the flood zone boundaries, will also decrease with the new cartographics. For example, the new base will support better flood zone determinations and integration in the DFIRM program.

What a great time to get started in GIS! Some surrounding Counties have just started a GIS. With the new ArcGIS, the low cost for high performance hardware, and all the available data in the government and the university consortiums, any County, Agency or individual can download significant data on almost any subject, municipality, or region. The data resources and links are so available that eventually everyone may develop a reliable Online mapping link. We have some real expectations for public access on the Internet as the latest performance measure.

We still have a small town atmosphere; as we grow, Online mapping will provide better customer service with uniform results. Finally the Online mapping service will support more responsive, thoughtful, and hopefully more peaceful outcomes in our town.

Paper 159

Our Town: A GIS Story

A Moderated Paper Session at the 2002 Esri International User Conference:

GIS Management I

Thursday, July 11, 2002, 1:30 PM-3:30 PM, Room 25C (SDCC)

San Diego, California

Submitted by:

Kenneth Sutherland, III

GIS Technician

Hernando County Planning Department

20 N. Main St., Rm. 262

Brooksville, FL 34601

(352)754-4404 (112)

(352)754-4420 (Fax)

kens@co.hernando.fl.us