Virginia Supports Major Statewide Mapping Effort
June 24, 2002/Newport News, Va.: The Commonwealth of Virginia recently completed the first phase of an unprecedented statewide mapping project known as the Virginia Base Mapping Program (VBMP). In the first phase, highly accurate aerial photographs were taken of the entire state over a two-month period. GeoDecisions, a software-independent information technology company that specializes in geographic information systems (GIS), is one of eight firms authoring information for the reference book that will accompany the release of these photographs.
The reference book will provide local government officials with information on how to use the orthophotographs to support operations and create a foundation for a comprehensive geographic information system (GIS). GeoDecisions is authoring the following topics: fire and rescue, police, planning, county executive and board of supervisors, park authority, parcel mapping for finance/tax, and public works/service authority. Having completed more than 400 projects similar to this across the U.S., GeoDecisions was able to provide extensive knowledge on each topic.
GeoDecisions will present papers on each of these topics at the Virginia GIS Conference, October 28-29, 2002 in Roanoke, Va. For the first time, VBMP will enable every local government and state agency in Virginia to share one consistent base map. The base map can be used to organize and maintain all varieties of geographic data. GeoDecisions has supported several local government agencies in Virginia with this task through a variety of projects, including data creation and analysis, application development, and Web GIS applications.
Coordinated by the Virginia Geographic Information Network, VBMP is the largest undertaking of its kind in the United States. More than 48,000 square miles of Virginia were covered in the aerial photography and subsequent orthophotographs. The orthophotographs will ultimately be distributed to local governments and state agencies in Virginia. VBMP is expected to conclude by early 2003.
GeoDecisions’ experienced staff of professional consultants, analysts, and developers supports clients across the United States. Fundamental to the company’s award-winning approach is the integration of spatial information to empower existing systems and processes. GeoDecisions’ philosophy is based on an enterprisewide approach to the integration of diverse information technologies, data formats, and systems.
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