Annual map update will have clearer images

Thursday, January 23, 2014
Vernon County Commissioner Neal Gerster locates a road with the assistance of digital county maps at a commission meeting on Tuesday. Aerial photographers will update Vernon County maps at the beginning of February, and images will be more detailed than previous maps. Photo by Nicole Garner/Daily Mail

Nevada Daily Mail

Ever zoomed in too far on an online map, and only saw a blur? Vernon County's 2014 map will have a little less of that problem.

Tim Bourassa, GIS director for Vernon County, said that this year's update to the county map will offer clearer views of Vernon County.

Previous county maps have a 3-foot resolution, meaning that each pixel on the map counts for three feet of an image. The 2014 map will have a 1-foot resolution, where each pixel counts for one-foot of what's recorded. Which means new maps will include more detail, making it easier to see houses, roads and other landmarks.

Bourassa said that while the maps will be clearer, fine details wouldn't be visible. This means items like license plates, faces or clothing of anyone who happens to be outside won't be captured.

The better resolution maps will make work easier for those who rely on them -- such as fire and emergency dispatchers. Bourassa said the main priority for map updates is to include new or modified buildings and structures.

Mapping services like Google Maps often give general locations when looking for specific home addresses. But with updated county maps, dispatchers will be able to relay precise directions to emergency personnel, making response times faster.

But county maps also have other uses. Vernon County Commissioners can use the digital maps to find roads of dispute or in need of repair. And the county assessors office can use updated imagery to check out property changes.

Updates to the map will take place around the second week of February. Because the fly-over mapping process takes between three and four hours to cover an area the size of Vernon County, aerial photographers have to wait until daylight hours are longer.

"Timing of the year is really important," Bourassa said. "This time of year allows you to also see under trees." The lack of leaves allows users to see what's below otherwise shaded areas, giving a better idea of what's around the county.

The online geographic information system (GIS) is available for anyone to view by visiting www.vernon.connectgis.com. Maps from 2008 to present are visible for comparison between years. The 2014 maps will be available around June.

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