https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com


Big city planning in the Big Apple

Big city planning in the Big Apple

The New York Department of City Planning (DCP) has developed a master GIS database that can be accessed by every department in the city. The GeoSupport
  • Written by AMERICAN CITY & COUNTY STAFF
  • 1st November 2000

The New York Department of City Planning (DCP) has developed a master GIS database that can be accessed by every department in the city. The GeoSupport System allows more than 30 departments – from the police department to the departments of finance and transportation – to update information on constantly changing properties, streets and political boundaries.

The DCP is responsible for land use regulation, environmental review, policy preparation, and providing technical assistance and planning information. For a city the size of New York, constant updates are required to keep the data current. The DCP, which has been using GIS since 1983, has a maintenance team consisting of 32 full-time and several part-time support staff.

The DCP’s Geographic Systems unit maintains two databases: the Linear Integrated Ordered Network (LION) file and the Community Oriented Geopositional Illustration Structure (COGIS) file. The files, which are the basis for the geographic information and computer-mapping capabilities throughout the city, are maintained and updated using software from Cambridge, England-based GE Smallworld.

The LION file is a schematic map that contains street centerlines, address ranges, street names and intersection identifiers. It includes a large number of district boundary overlays, such as police precincts, school districts, fire districts, census tracts and congressional districts, and it allows the city to associate addresses with all of those various districts. The city sells and distributes the LION file and district boundary files under the product name “Bytes of the Big Apple.”

The COGIS file is a graphics-only parcel file containing the outlines of all the properties in the city (approximately 1 million records). COGIS supports the extensive thematic mapping used for planning and information distribution. For planning, city staff members can make color-coded maps that indicate the ways in which land is used.

The GeoSupport System is a city-wide resource, used by all agencies. For example, there are more than three million registered voters in New York. When a voter fills out a registration form, the Board of Elections uses the system to determine the voter’s district. Also, the system is used to issue building permits and to track building code violations, safety inspections, parking meter repairs and street light repairs.

“The current services provided by DCP are vital to effective planning and communication in New York City,” says Richard Steinberg, director of geographic systems for the DCP. “Our system is extremely effective, and we save countless research hours on a daily basis. We are working on developing additional venues for using our data toward enhancing city management functions.”

The DCP is currently working in-house to match the LION data with the city’s new spatially accurate (to one foot) planimetric base map. The department expects to complete work on the project by January 2001.

To match the COGIS file to the base map, the city has contracted with Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Analytical Surveys. As part of the COGIS project, lot dimensions from the city’s tax maps are being stored in the COGIS database, paving the way for automating the tax mapping operations of the Department of Finance. Except for the lot dimension component, the department expects to complete work on the COGIS adjustment by next year. Once the LION and COGIS have been matched to the base map, city agencies will be able to map streets, properties, political and administrative district boundaries, and building outlines.

Tags:

Most Recent


  • NYC wants to convert unused offices into housing units through relaxed regulations, incentivization
    Since the start of the pandemic, cities across the United States have seen a dramatic increase in residents working from home, and in correlation, more unused offices. While local governments are still grappling with the best way to overcome this challenge, converting vacated commercial space into residential dwellings is a clear solution, as it simultaneously […]
  • podcasts
    Tuning into your community: Top reasons why your agency needs a podcast
    Podcasts are more popular than ever. In fact, in the United States, podcasts attract more than 100 million monthly listeners (according to demandsage.com). Are you tapping into the power of the pod to deliver important news on your city or county’s programs, projects, initiatives and community partnerships? If not, you may miss out on a […]
  • 25 of the best city flags flying over American metros and towns
    When it comes to city flags, “form follows function.” A simple, well-designed city flag creates community cohesion, fosters civic pride, and support’s the commuinity’s branding. It also costs less and more residents are apt to use it, according to a survey ranking the best city flags in the United States from the North American Vexillological […]
  • sustainability
    Residents ask government leaders to show measurable sustainability results and triumphs
    There’s a growing urgency for cities and counties to go green, says Sol Salinas, executive vice president, sustainability lead at Capgemini Americas, a service-based company that provides consulting, digital transformation and outsourcing services to many organizations, including government agencies. It partners with organizations to transform and manage their operations by harnessing the power of technology. […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • NLC releases State of Cities 2021 report
  • How governments can keep employees safe as they return to work
  • Lessons from your friendly neighborhood public service employees
  • North Texas alliance partners with Marketplace.city on smart government solutions

White papers


Modernizing government services for today’s resident expectations

24th January 2023

Preparing Your Community Now for the Next Generation of Older Adults

18th October 2022

Helping Government Fleets Achieve Their Goals

30th September 2022
view all

Webinars


Future-proof Your State and Local Government Finance: 5 Key Trends for 2023

6th February 2023

How To: Evaluate Digital Government Service Delivery Technologies

23rd January 2023

Using Technology to Enhance Communications

29th November 2022
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


25 of the best city flags flying over American metros and towns

7th February 2023

These 10 American cities are well prepared for a tech-based future

1st February 2023

Report: While remote work is causing offices to empty out, walkable cities are still in high demand

26th January 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

NYC wants to convert unused offices into housing units through relaxed regulations, incentivization dlvr.it/Sj7ls5

8th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Tuning into your community: Top reasons why your agency needs a podcast dlvr.it/Sj7578

8th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

25 of the best city flags flying over American metros and towns dlvr.it/Sj2RyK

7th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Residents ask government leaders to show measurable sustainability results and triumphs dlvr.it/Sj1znw

6th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Future-proof Your State and Local Government Finance: 5 Key Trends for 2023 dlvr.it/Sj1KxB

6th February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Amid spike, federal transportation department launches initiative to curb traffic-related deaths dlvr.it/Shvs31

3rd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Engaging businesses to strengthen your community dlvr.it/ShvZn0

3rd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: Some public employees face financial hardship; comprehensive pay packages proved ‘a pathway toward economic… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

2nd February 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.