CitizenGIS

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

CitizenGIS is an internet-based application that integrates two of Chesterfield County Government’s largest software applications, the geographic information system (GIS) and the computer assisted land information appraisal system (CALIAS), to produce a tool for researching the county’s land base. Currently 21 different informational layers can be turned on or off within the application. Another 6 informational layers are shown on the cached base map and appear at different zoom levels. CitizenGIS provides various search methods for locating property, which when utilized, return a graphic view of the property, complete with aerial photography background, and the option to get additional information about the property. The parcel click identify tool accesses the county’s on-line real estate page providing detailed information about the property ownership, sales and assessment, including a link to the subdivision plat if the property is in a subdivision, and provides a text list of school district, voting precinct, and political district information relating to the property, another 9 layers of information. Since the release in May 2010, website analytics for CitizenGIS show that there have been site visits from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 76 foreign countries. In fiscal year 2011 the site received an average of 151 hits a day. Thus far in fiscal year 2012, the site is receiving an average of 173 hits a day. Both citizens and members of the development community are able to find the information they need any time of the day or night, and can save or print a map at no charge.