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Permit Office Systems - Information Resources

The City of Irvine sought to combine their city mapping library with databases used by various city departments to provide accurate and diverse types of maps for building regulation, planning, and numerous other city services.

SOLUTION:

Geographic Information System

The City combined the map library with departmental databases to create a Geographic Information System (GIS), a computerized system that generates maps for multiple purposes and is accessible through a citywide network.

DESCRIPTION:

The City of Irvine GIS/Mapping program is designed to provide maps and parcel data to City Departments and to the public. The system consists of a land record base map with many layers which depict land use and/or land conditions. Everything from land use to flood zones to public works inventories, transportation facilities, planning areas, city boundaries, and parks are included in the system.

The land record base map serves as the code of the GIS database. It is a comprehensive assembly of all parcels and lots in the city in digital format. Every line segment has coding to indicate its features, such as right-of-way, street centerline, and lot line. Every parcel has coding to provide legal description (tract and lot), and features (park or commercial). With this complete electronic city land record, staff can build other GIS databases like general plan land use, zoning, assessment districts, etc. Staff can also link any external database, such as assessor’s information, and display the analysis graphically on a map. For example, a map can display which part of the city has the highest assessed property value.

One of the main benefits of the GIS is that departments experience improved management of their resources. Because GIS systems can link data sets together by geography, they facilitate interdepartmental information sharing and communication. By creating a shared database, one function can benefit from the work of another. Data can be collected once and used many times.

The enclosed report contains example maps produced for various city departments, and outlines how GIS assists with the following tasks:

• Planning and zoning
• Building and safety
• Public works
• Public safety
  • Law enforcement
  • Emergency response/911 Applications
  • Fire department

• Government: $225,000 and 7,300 hours per year
• Customers: 30% savings

The Automation Task Group advanced this program to the Regulatory Affairs Committee (RAC) with the following qualifications:

• Expensive to acquire, develop, and maintain;
• Great tool for large or rapidly developing communities;
• Requires a permanent commitment to maintain.

The Streamlining Committees designated this program as a streamlined model without modifications.

The GIS system was implemented through administrative action by the City of Irvine. The implementation cost was a one-time expense of $200,000 to cover hardware and software. No further costs were described, but naturally would include administrative costs of setting up training programs and upgrading hardware/software.