G. Kuslansky, Ph.D.

Background:
Traditionally, field work involving measurements has been
according to more or less standard procedures.
For most kind of measurements such as properties,
infrastructure etc., a team of two workers goes out in the
field armed with a steel tape for measurements, and field
books for recording results.
As they measure the building, one holds the end of the tape,
while the second goes to the next wall, reads the distance,
and draws a line on paper, labeling the distance in pencil.
They may also record field data such as lot and parcel,
address, and the name of the owner, resident, or business
at that location.
Although time tested and accepted by survey companies
as the best way they work, this procedure is fraught
with problems.

1. Two workers are required to do the job.
2. Upon returning to the office, the field drawings they
   bring back with them must be transcribed into the
   computer, essentially duplicating work already done.
3. After transcription into the computer, it is often
   (sometimes usually) found that polygons will not close
   properly.
   The only remedy for this is to return to the
   field and reexamine the measurements, often starting
   from scratch.
4. Transcribing from hand drawn paper sketches is not
   only time consuming, but full of potential problems.
   For example, smudges can render numbers illegible,
   as can creases in the paper.
   Even worse, if it happens to rain, several days of work
   can be lost.
   In areas where data is dense, crowding
   of handwritten numbers often results in unreadable text.
   How many times have we all spent precious office time
   wasted trying to decipher what the field worker wrote?
5. Data collection has to be repeated in the office.
   Field notes have to be used to find the correct information
   however the data is stored.
   Once again, mistakes are inevitably common.

• New products and services
• Customer service
• It eliminates the need to transcribe sketches in
  the office.
  If orthophotos are used as a background for the
  computer drawing, the properties can be located
  in their true geographic orientation.
• The laser rangefinder can export the measurements
  directly into the program, eliminating entirely the
  possibility of recording mistakes.
• The surveyor can see immediately that the polygon
  will close, or not close.
  If the polygon does not close,
  they can find the problem and correct it in the field.
  This saves an enormous amount of time and energy
  otherwise spent going back to the field to find and
  correct open polygons.
• This procedure totally eliminates problems caused
  by illegible field notes, which likewise would require
  a return trip to the field.
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• The application has access to database
  alphanumeric information.
  Using data tables,
  the application can retrieve all the relevant
  information regarding a property based on one
  of several search possibilities, including address,
  lot and parcel, property number, or name of
  property owner.
  Using one of these search terms,
  all of the relevant data can be retrieved and imported
  directly into the drawing file as a ‘block’.
• Additional field data is incorporated into the ‘block’
  from field observations.
  This includes attributes such
  as property use, ceiling height, and any comments
  made by the surveyor.
• Editing and updating the information is a simple
  matter of loading the file into the pen tablet computer
  and taking the entire GIS file into the field.
• The field drawing file is a totally complete GIS
  compatible file with closed polygons in their true
  geographic orientation, complete with incorporated
  alphanumeric data.
  There is no need for office editing.
  No transcription errors.
  No illegible handwriting to decipher.
  No returning to the field to complete work already
  done before.

Why GIS?

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.
• Landaus
• 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

• planning, both short term and long term, maintenance.
• 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.

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.
• 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
• 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.

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