The city of Española Planning and Zoning Department is currently applying geographic information system (GIS) technology to update all of the physical addresses within city limits.
The geo-mapping technology can help city planners research valuable data regarding property lines, addresses, city resources, elevation levels and terrain types.
Planning department addresser Desirae Medina said the geo-mapping system helps various departments but more could be done by the residents themselves.
“We need people to put their addresses up so when fire (Department) is driving down the street they can see it,” Medina said, referring to residents placing number plates on either their homes or mailboxes to make locating properties easier.
The city’s emergency personnel can benefit from the new technology as having a database of updated, accurate physical addresses can help the E-911, police, fire department and first responders locate emergency scenes with greater ease.
Marti Griego, Director of the Española/Rio Arriba E-911 Center, said, “The GIS mapping benefits the 911 Center by providing us the most accurate and updated information available which allows us to send help to the caller and to give directions to law enforcement, fire and medics – (who) we dispatch for.
“The GIS information is crucial and must be updated to ensure we have the most current address on file. When we receive a 911 we verify the address and phone number to be certain we are sending responders to the correct location,” Griego said.
The E-911 Center utilizes the data, sent by Medina, to construct a map that can be used to guide responders during emergency calls.
The federal geographic data website states, geographic information system technology utilizes latitude and longitude coordinates to plot locations on a map or grid. Data is then layered to show patterns and relationships for various functions, including mapping addresses, displaying locations of fire hydrants, wastewater lines, or terrain features like rivers, valleys and mountains.
For example, by layering information, geo-mapping can not only track the course of the Rio Grande through the city, but it can also include data on river flow, fish populations and levels of water purity, depth and public usage. Applying multiple levels of information to one map can offer researchers a more thorough understanding of a certain area’s characteristics, according to the federal geographic website.
In the event of a natural disaster, emergency services can utilize geo-mapping to maximize the efficiency of evacuation routes. Data can be layered to represent traffic flow, distances from fire and police stations and soil thickness. If an earthquake were to strike, roads that sit atop loose soils could become unstable causing surface structures to topple over, according to the federal geographic website.
Geo-mapping technology also incorporates aerial photography to provide analysts with a visualization of a certain area.
“The addressing helps a lot when it comes to aerials,” Medina said.
Residents who own smart phones may already be familiar with how geo-mapping works, as global positioning systems (GPS) use similar technology.
The federal geographic data website also states, GIS software can be used to optimize maintenance schedules and daily fleet routes which could translate into financial savings for the city. The technology can be used to maximize the efficiency of various city departments including public works, public safety, streets and housing.