Geographic Information System (GIS)
(click here to jump to Town of Colonie GIS Web site)

The Town of Colonie continues to move forward with development of its Geographic Information System (GIS). The GIS is a computer technology that combines geographic data (i.e. parcels, road centerlines, infrastructure) and other types of information (i.e. real property service data) to generate visual maps and reports.

This technology provides a systematic way to collect and manage location-based information. The GIS allows data to be viewed and analyzed in map form, streamlines information retrieval, and improves data reliability and accessibility. The system provides a quick, accurate, and efficient means of coordinating a variety of Town functions. The potential applications of this tool are almost limitless.

The Town of Colonie began development of its GIS in 1995, with the digitizing of the Town tax maps to create a base map showing all streets and parcels of property in the Town. In October of 2000, the Town of Colonie hired Rob Mateja as the GIS Coordinator. Work on the system has continued with the collection of data, creation of mapping, and development of applications.

There are several departments in the Town using GIS. The Community Development Department is using GIS to assist in preparing Housing and Urban Development grants through the use of mapping census information for the Town of Colonie. Latham Water used GIS to model areas of concern when estimating water pressure and to help manage water districts. GIS allows the Planning and Economic Development Department to keep the zoning map current, assist in developing the protected watercourse, and help track commercial activity taking place in the Town. The department of Public Works (Divisions of Highway, Latham Water, and Pure Waters) is using GIS to comply with GASB 34. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board , Statement No. 34 (GASB 34) was adopted in June of 1999 and requires all government entities that receive federal funding to report on the value and condition of all their physical assets and infrastructure. Using GPS (Global Positioning Systems) the Department of Public Works is able to collect coordinates for each physical asset (i.e. fire hydrants, water valves, sanitary sewer manholes, catch basins etc.). These points are then being connected to develop the water distribution system, sanitary collection system, and storm sewer system. Detailed information such as size, material, diameter, age, condition and maintenance history can be displayed for any component with the click of a mouse button. When completed, the Department of Public Works will be able to develop more efficient schedules for routine maintenance, and can track areas where repeated calls for maintenance and repair might mean that a replacement or upgrade is needed.

Other Town Departments are using the maps created or the data manipulated by the GIS. These departments include the Comptroller, Historian, Town Clerk, Fire Prevention, Parks and Recreation and Police, EMS. Other Departments are using GIS to view data including the Attorneys office, Assessors, Building, and Landfill.

Public Access to the GIS information has been an important component of the Town's plan for the system. The Town of Colonie, along with the help of our consultant, Applied GIS, has developed a web-based GIS application. This application allows the ability to place GIS functionality in the hands of users at any place, anytime. Using current state of the art technology, users can interactively add and overlay spatial data, query this data, and print maps all from their internet browser. There is no need to load GIS software on the desktop. Wherever users have internet access, they can have access to GIS. The spatial data to be displayed include parcels, zoning, wetlands, floodplains, points of interest, road centerlines and road names, water bodies, streams. The application enables users to query, locate and analyze tax parcels within the Town based on owner name, address or several relevant criteria such as landuse, zoning, and parcel size.

The Town of Colonie expects that its GIS will result in more efficient and cost-effective delivery of services to the community, and is committed to investing the resources needed to make this a reality. These efforts have been assisted by the generous support of the Town of Colonie Industrial Development Agency, which recognizes the value the system will have to the economic health of the Town.

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