Waynesboro unveils GIS mapping system

The City of Waynesboro launched an online mapping system Wednesday that allows the public to search property information, aerial images and topographical land features.

By browsing over the map, users can quickly view land values and the shapes of buildings, or locate city and school district boundaries. Labels and drawing tools are available for identifying locations on maps that can then be printed or exported as digital images.

Four months in the making, and at least four years behind neighboring Staunton and Augusta County, the Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping technology will likely be used by developers, engineers, utilities companies and prospective home buyers, area GIS coordinators said.

Waynesboro officials hired Richmond-based WorldView Solutions, Inc. to develop the software for $20,500. The monthly maintenance fee will be $450, said Waynesboro GIS Coordinator Keith Pultz. WorldView has developed similar systems for the cities of Lynchburg, Danville, Hampton and many others.

“I would hope it’s intuitive,” Pultz said, comparing the system to Google Maps.

He said the city developed the Internet-based system to save money instead of installing mapping software on numerous computers in the city’s various offices, located across the town.

In fact, one available data layer that the public can view is one which highlights city buildings and lists departments located there.

Waynesboro Assistant City Manager Jim Shaw said digital maps have become the standard in many professions.

“The expectation is that you’re going to be able to give people digital maps,” he said, adding that, “most public information has a geographic element.”

City employees will use the system similarly to the public, but will be able to access more layers of data, Pultz said. The city has about 97 types of data, including where sewer pipes travel and where students live.

“The point of the application is to view … information related to land records,” Pultz said. “Everything else is a bonus.”

Aerial photography, for example, will be a step ahead of Staunton and Augusta County systems.

Users can see aerial photography taken from various years, and with one swipe of the computer mouse, can toggle between photos taken in different years.

“See how the trees turn green?” Pultz said, showing off the feature.

The “swipe” technology also shows where and when developments grew in Waynesboro.

“Oh, that’s cool,” Augusta County GIS Specialist Lee Kello said, referring to the swipe feature.

Kello said the county GIS site went up in 2005 and remains a work-in-progress. He hopes to add zoning and watershed information as data layers.

Staunton GIS Coordinator John Brady said Staunton had posted GIS by 2002. He said flood zone maps are popular, and that people often search out school district boundaries before purchasing a home.