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The Urgent Need for Geographic Information
Systems in Local Government
G.I.S Services
1. GIS (Geographic Information System)
is a computerized system in which a link is created between alphanumeric (database)
information and geographic information (computer graphic map file). These applications
enable information to be stored and retrieved as 'themes' or 'layers' on the map.
The maps themselves are based on aerial photographs. As information layers are collected
in the field, they are added to the GIS application.
2. The majority of activities and decisions
made by local governments have geographic components. These are precisely managed
by GIS, such as the following:
- Control over tax collection - such as property tax,
building fees, building permits for construction, roads, sidewalks, infrastructure
(water, sewage, lighting, etc.), improvement fees, fees for traffic signs, etc.
- Use and management of public facilities (educational,
cultural, commercial, etc.)
- Planning, management, and maintenance of public infrastructures.
- Building permits including building violations and landaus
violations.
- Municipal services, such as public service center, sanitation,
public gardens, city owned property such as park benches, transportation, etc.
In all of the above areas, GIS allows the municipality to
collect the entire amount of information only once. When updates to the information
are required, the data collection can be carried out with a minimum of effort and
expense, without disturbing the residents privacy further.
3. GIS allows information to be distributed
to various purposes in the municipality, such as
- Strategic planning, both short term and long term, maintenance.
- Effect cost savings, quality control, and increased
efficiency in financial management in areas such as creation of streamlined processes,
savings in manpower, and integration and communication between municipal organizations,
such as municipal beautification programs, programs for resident services, and tools
for decision makers to improve all of the above.
4. The GIS systems can provide cost/benefit
analyses to the municipality according to the needs and requirements of each municipality.
5. The GIS system can serve the needs of
the municipality for internal purposes, and for the public as a potential information
consumer. In order to perform this service, the applications are integrated among
the different municipal departments. In addition, the applications are user-friendly,
so that any user, without computer experience, can benefit from the GIS applications.
The public can access the GIS information either at the municipal offices, or online
from the Internet.
6. In the absence of municipal GIS systems,
access to crucial information is adversely affected in such areas as:
- Lowered municipal income and the inability to efficiently
perform tax collection because of the problem of updating important municipal information
- Delay in planning and implementation of municipal decisions.
- Defective or faulty plans, which may go undetected due
to the lack of geographic information.
- Increased costs of many projects and processes.
- Decrease in services to the public, which results in
decreases in public faith in the municipality.
- Increase in maintenance costs for municipal infrastructures.
- Decrease in the ability to control municipal processes
and to effect quality control
- Increase in the complexity of municipal operations resulting
in increased costs for manpower and time required to complete operations.
Our company has successfully completed GIS projects in many
municipalities. We are ready to help our customers to install systems, in accordance
with local statutory requirements, customer support, training of personnel, and
financing.
Orhitec LTD will be happy to supply a detailed project proposal
for each subject described above.
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