March 4, 2013 -Springfield, MA – The City of Springfield, Office of Planning & Economic Development, is planning an aerial flyover of the entire city this spring to update data in its Geographic Information System (GIS). The flyover is the first of its kind since 2008, and will serve to update the city’s online property lookup system as well as police, fire and health services.
“It’s not only a crucial public safety item to keep your mapping and building structure data as accurate as possible, but it’s also a great benefit to the development community and the public,” said Kevin Kennedy, Chief Development Officer.
The city will be updating its GIS information database by obtaining new aerial photography via a spring flyover of the City. The current aerial photographic information was obtained in 2008, and with recent natural disasters and new development the changes to the landscape have created a significant need to update the information. It has been the City’s goal to update the photographic mapping every 4-5 years.
The cost of the update is expected to be $65,000 and is being funded through fees generated by the Department of Public Works (DPW) as part of its Occupancy / Excavation Permit Program. Any contractor who is working or excavates within the City’s Right-of-way is required to obtain a permit from the City.
At the beginning of the current fiscal year, the Department of Public Works became part of the DigSafe program and teamed with DigSafe to identify all potential work that will occur in the City. The $8,000 expense in joining this program has resulted in over $100,000 of additional revenue in the first six months of the fiscal year without the need for individual permit fee increases.
Once the flyover is complete, the public can expect see the updated data incorporated into the city’s GIS website by mid-summer.
On the web: City of Springfield public GIS page: www.springfieldcityhall.com/gis