GIS technology can be used for scientific investigations, resource management, and development planning.
It makes it possible to link information that is difficult to associate through any other means. The power
of a GIS comes from the ability to relate different information in a spatial context and to reach a conclusion
about this relationship.
This sounds great, but what does it all mean? The links below give you examples of how people in
different fields are using GIS
right now to improve their communities.
Everyone
Bringin' it to the People: Data on Demand
The Indiana Spatial Data Portal is an online repository of more than 7.5 terabytes of data: aerial photography,
elevation data, topographic maps, and more...
I Can See My School!
Creating and fostering enthusiasm for GIS in kids...
Is It Safe To Drive?
What are the weather conditions on Indiana roads at any given time?...
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Health and Safety
Train Wreck
On the west side of Indianapolis, more than 30 cars derailed when a train from Buffalo, NY, slammed into runaway cars from the rail yards...
To Catch a Killer
The Carmel Police and GIS Departments collaborated to put a killer behind bars...
Nine Minutes Too long
Because of explosive growth, Fishers fire stations could no longer meet the eight-minute response time
required of emergency responders...
Walk a Mile in Their Shoes
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that cities, states, and towns make public areas
accessible to everyone by installing aids like handrails, elevators, or parking spaces...
It's Electrifyin'
When a power line goes down because of a man-made disaster, bad weather, or even a simple accident, one of the
first things emergency managers need to know is, "Who do we call to fix this?"...
Customized Safety
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security needed to find a way to deliver statewide aerial photography to emergency managers in all
92 counties in a format that was usable and useful...
Just the Facts
The City of South Bend Police Department has always kept records on all crimes that the department responds to...
People You Can Count On
When an F3 tornado crashed through Vanderburgh and Warrick counties, the Indiana GIS community - public and private
organizations alike - displayed remarkable volunteer spirit and corporate citizenship...
Protecting Children from Lead Poisoning
Childhood lead poisoning is a significant health and social concern for communities...
An Ounce of Prevention
Fort Wayne, Indiana is located at the convergence of the St. Joseph and St. Mary's Rivers...
After the Tornados
After a series of tornados struck Indiana, GIS was used to track damage and make the...
Better Information, Better Communication, Better Emergency Response
Like most county governments, Allen County officials want to provide taxpayers the best services...
A Flood of Information
Being located on a floodplain affects a property's insurance requirements, building guidelines, flood control options,
property values, permitting constraints, and zoning...
Sharing the Glory
A coordinated effort by cities, towns, the County, and public safety officials led to a method of effectively and efficiently sharing
critical address and street data between them all...
Speedy Recovery
Flooding causes more deaths and damage than any other weather-related phenomena, and three-quarters of all federally declared disasters...
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Economic Development
Place of Pride
Front Door Pride is a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization program in Evansville...
Broadband, Anyone?
In recent years, rural areas have had difficulty obtaining high-speed internet, which is now being regarded as a basic utility like electricity or water...
The New Business Pages
Indianapolis needed an easy mechanism to maintain and disseminate information about commercial and industrial
properties that are available for sale or lease...
One Man, Many Maps
As President of the Dearborn County Economic Development Initiative, Jim West was charged with identifying economic development
opportunities for Dearborn County in rural southeast Indiana...
A New Way of Doing Business
When Honda announced Decatur would be the home of its new plant, the County knew it was not going to be a normal development project...
Evolving Economies
Chesterton needed to coordinate proper growth management with an effective vision of economic development...
Conservation and Quality of Life
Attracting new business and growing Indiana's economy rely on improving our quality of life, natural
habitat and recreation opportunities...
Big Man on Campus
As a Fortune 500 company, Eli Lilly is faced with the daily task of managing millions of assets...
Attracting the Big Retailers
The City of Hammond wanted to attract a major retailer to their community. Wal-Mart...
Managing the Boom
All local governments struggle with managing information about their communities. Finding ways to analyze,
update and maintain data can be vital to fast-growing communities...
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Environment
Mapping Indiana's Old Man River
It's vital that sewer overflow doesn't become a health and safety issue for river visitors after storms or snow melt...
Saving Hoosier Forests
The Forestry Division of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources strives to maintain healthy woodlands...
Smart Growth
While Indiana communities rank high on many quality of life factors, they often fall behind...
Quick, Intelligent Clean Up
Spills and leaks of environmental contaminants often flow into sewers. Treatment facilities can often mitigate...
Follow the Pollution
Using GIS, the Monroe County Planning Department developed a Stream Assessment which gives an overview of water quality...
Conservation and Quality of Life
Attracting new business and growing Indiana's economy rely on improving our quality of life, natural
habitat and recreation opportunities...
Shortest Distance to Clean Water
The water company developed an automated system to replace paper orders, and got field crews
comfortable with the new technology by having them play games on it...
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Good Government
Great Deeds Done
The State Land Office identified surplus parcels have been auctioned to private entities putting over
$5.6M back into state coffers...
Sharing the Glory
A coordinated effort by cities, towns, the County, and public safety officials led to a method of effectively and efficiently sharing
critical address and street data between them all...
Surveying the Possibilities
Few surveyor's markers have been tagged with GPS coordinates that can be used for legal surveys. Efforts
are underway, but the process will take years. In the meantime, surveyors need a simple, reliable way to access...
A Government that Talks to Itself
The City of Mishawaka was striving to implement GIS on a citywide level...
How All-Purpose is Defined
The Noble County GIS Committee was tasked with finding a better way to manage everyday information on
property, drainage, land use, planning...
Spend Less Time, Spend Less Money
In today's business world, efficiency and cost effective solutions are driving forces. This applies to county
governments as well. The Wells County Assessor's Office...
Enabling an Informed, Engaged Public
Web-based mapping can provide an easy, low cost solution that provides access to data ...
Metadata Made Easy
Metadata is important documentation about your GIS data. It is the "what, where, when, who and why"...
If I Had a Big Enough Lever...
Often, collecting data is only the first step. After you know where everyone lives, you need a mechanism
to share that information with other organizations that need to know, too...
Good Government: Transportation
Is It Safe To Drive?
What are the weather conditions on Indiana roads at any given time?...
Dot-Dot-Dash
Using GIS for asset management is a great time savings, but that's only part of the story...
Maintaining the Crossroads of America
The Indiana Department of Transportation is charged with maintaining over 11,000 miles of state, federal and interstate highways. In
order to ensure the highest quality transportation system for the citizens of Indiana, INDOT needed a way to report roadway deficiencies...
Getting There Faster
The "Connections 2030 Regional Transportation Plan" is the latest in a series developed over 30 years...
What the Numbers Mean
When working in government, decision makers and managers are constantly under pressure to be more efficient with less time and fewer
resources...
Good Government: Utilities
Stormy Weather
Streets and parking lots do more than cover the ground, they affect an area’s drainage...
It's Electrifyin'
When a power line goes down because of a man-made disaster, bad weather, or even a simple accident, one of the
first thing emergency managers need to know is, "Who do we call to fix this?"...
Streamlining Record-Keeping
The City of Elkhart Department of Public Works & Utilities currently maintains several sets of mylar...
Accurate Stormwater Billing
Impervious surfaces - hard surfaces like concrete and asphalt - don't allow rain water to soak into...
Cooperation Benefits Counties
The Huntington County Surveyor's Office needed a more reliable way to calculate drainage
assessments for land owners....
One System, One Plan, One Happy Town
After more than 20 years, a number of the Belleville Conservancy District's wastewater facilities were beginning to show their age. The nearby Town of
Plainfield offered to take over...
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