The Engineering Department's GIS Specialist maintains all of the township’s maps, geospatial databases, and applications. Geospatial information is any information that contains geographic information. According to some estimates, more than 80% of information stored and maintained by a municipality is geospatial in nature. Examples of geospatial information include; street addresses, tax block and lot numbers, geographic coordinates, zoning district, and sewer service areas. Using advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) software, hardware, personnel, and methods allows the township to utilize this information in a far superior manner. This enables the township to present this information in a far more efficient manner, and also enables advanced analytical capabilities from this information. Township departments are able to interact and obtain information much easer. The public is able obtain information in a much faster and accurate manner.
The GIS Specialist has worked on many recent projects both in-house and in cooperation with many state, county, and federal agencies. This has allowed the township to provide high-quality assistance in these projects with a minimal amount of cost to the township and the public. Some examples include:
- Implementation of the Montgomery Township internet applications. These applications allow township staff and the general public to obtain extremely detailed information directly from their web browsers.
- Working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in re-mapping the Special Flood Hazard Areas contained on the 2007 FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), thus allowing for a more accurate determination of flood prone areas.
- Working with the United States Census Bureau on the Local Update of Census Address (LUCA) project. This will enable a more accurate count of township residents for the 2020 US Census, thus increasing the township’s chances of obtaining its fair share of federal and state funding.
- Working in conjunction with both the township and Somerset County Planning Departments in analyzing the state Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) study. A geoprocessing model was created by the township GIS staff that allowed the township to perform quick detailed future housing projections for the entire township.
Useful Links
This page contains links to GIS data, GIS organizations, interactive mapping applications, and other organizations related to geography or mapping type public services. Please be advised that these websites are not operated by Montgomery Township, and Montgomery Township is not responsible for any content contained on these websites.
Related Links
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection GIS
- NJDEP Open Data Website
- New Jersey Geological Survey
- NJ Geographic Information Network Open Data Portal
- Somerset County GIS
- United States Environmental Protection Agency EnviroFacts Mapping Application
- United States Census Bureau TIGER Map Server
- United States Census Bureau Data Website
- National Geodetic Survey
- Federal Geographic Data Committee
- Weather Forecasts by National Weather Service
- Data Analysis and GIS Mapping – Butler University