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All phases of emergency management depend on data from a variety of sources. The appropriate data has to be gathered, organized, and displayed logically to determine the size and scope of emergency planning and response. During an actual emergency it is critical to have the right data at the right time displayed logically to respond and take appropriate action. By utilizing a GIS, all departments can share information through databases on computer-generated maps. Without this capability, emergency workers must gain access to a number of department managers, their unique maps, and their unique data. Time is of the essence - most emergencies don't allow time to gather these resources. GIS provides a mechanism to centralize and visually display critical information during an emergency.
Combining GIS data with plume modeling software, areas of concern could be developed and evacuation plans created.
As the Logan County GIS system matures new capabilities will be developed to serve our County's first responders and protect the public that they serve.
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The Zoning Office frequently receives questions regarding whether a property is in the floodplain and/or if there are places on the property where structures can be constructed outside of the floodplain. The Flood Insurance Rate Maps (published by FEMA) show the boundaries of the 100-year floodplain and will often show a specific elevation (i.e. 500' above sea level). Utilizing existing GIS data layers (aerial photography and contour maps) can be very helpful in showing the boundaries of the floodplain on a specific piece of property.
The following map is an example of how GIS data layers are used in this process.
Let's say that a request came in to the Zoning Office asking if the Lawndale cemetery is outside of the 100-year floodplain. Review of the paper copy Flood Insurance Rate maps will show that the 100-year floodplain elevation is 592' in the vicinity of the cemetery. With this elevation it is possible to use the two GIS data layers (aerial photography and contour maps) to show, what, if any, land is above the 100-year floodplain.
Looking at the above map, you will see that there is a long, dark line that wraps around the cemetery. This line is the 600 foot elevation line. The other lines represent one (1) foot contours or changes in elevation. Moving away from the 600' elevation down to Kickapoo Creek we find elevations of 595' and 585'. Since we know that the 100-year floodplain elevation is 592' then it is possible to see that that the cemetery is outside of the 100-year floodplain because the elevation around the cemetery is approximately 600'.
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The Supervisor of Assessments office has embraced a new technology now being used by many levels of government to aid in maintaining tax parcels, boundaries, soil types etc.
The above picture is an example of parcel boundary lines over our aerial maps which were flown in the spring of 2004. This view can be used to help land owners visually identify and discuss their properties building structures, land uses etc.
The picture shown below is that of our aerial photography (2004) with USDA soils overlay over it.
By using these GIS maps in our office we are able to maintain updated soil maps as well as parcel boundary information.
Due to mandated changes in how farmland is calculated using individual soil productivity index' (PI'S) vs. weighted soil PI'S the previously published crop yield estimates (circular 1156) were more than 22 years old. Changes in crop yields and rotation have had a wide impact. Now using Bulletin 810 each soil type has new crop yields, this maintains accuracy and incorporates the effects of improved technology on crop production and soil productivity.
The internet mapping site that is being developed will allow the general public as well as realtors and appraisers to create maps and search public information. The maps will be for viewing only and are not available for download at the present time. Please refer to and review the following disclaimer:
The Data is provided "as is" without warranty or any representation of accuracy, timeliness or completeness. Logan County Supervisor of Assessments Office makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the use of the Data. There are no implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The person requesting said information acknowledges and accepts the limitations of the Data, including the fact that the Data is in a constant state of maintenance, correction and updating.
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The Logan County Health Department has the duty of assuring the health and safety of Logan County Residents. The ability to quickly identify spatial relationships between hazards and illness can prevent or minimize the impact of disease in the community. GIS is an extremely useful tool that can be used to track environmental hazards, communicable diseases, and disease clusters. Elevated household radon levels and cases of childhood lead poisoning can be plotted to focus resources and education into high risk areas. Special Needs Populations can be mapped in order to quickly respond to these people in the event of an emergency. Many health departments routinely use GIS applications during foodborne illness and STD investigations.
One example of how the Logan County Health Department currently uses GIS is to gather information necessary for environmental permits. In the picture shown below, GIS tools are used to measure the distance between an existing well and a proposed septic system. Additional data layers can be used to determine the soil type on the property, which is important information when evaluating permits. The efficiency in obtaining this information saves time for the contractors and homeowners, and redirects Health Department resources that may have be spent during timely site visits to other important program activities.
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The Logan County Highway Department has been instrumental in developing GIS in Logan County. With full access to the data layers, the Highway Department uses GIS on a daily basis. "I can't imagine the productivity lost if I did not have this information at my fingertips," says Bret Aukamp, Logan County Engineer. "With GIS, I can immediately zoom into the aerial photographs whenever I receive a question, either in person or over the phone."
What is the right-of-way on my road?
Another project has been to locate all of the road signs along County Highways and township roads. This is a way to establish an inventory of the road signs in preparation of an upcoming federal grant to replace many of the older signs that are not retro-reflective. This was also used to verify that warning sign placement distances were compatible with the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Verification of these distances without GIS would require on-site measurement of every sign. Needless to say, the use of GIS saved dozens of man-hours.
All centerline striping has been documented with GIS. Now, when a road is resurfaced or sealcoated, we can easily mark off the No Passing Zones using global positioning coordinates.
The Highway Department has linked the Logan County GIS data to several IDOT databases. For instance, every structure in the county with a span of at least 20 feet has been inventoried. A query can be made with this database to indicate the number of bridges with sufficiency ratings less than or equal to 50.
Queries are routinely performed in the planning processes of road improvements. When faced with shrinking buying power from existing roadway funding, it is imperative to make wise decisions. For example, if a query were run to determine which local roads in Logan County have a daily traffic count of at least 500 cars, but have a surface of less than 22 feet wide, one could see where road widening would be most beneficial. This analysis is essential when deciding the best uses for limited funds.
These are just a few of the common examples that the Highway Department performs using GIS. As new layers are added, queries can be made to analyze data to make wise decisions for programming road funds. Without GIS, these decisions would take much more time, decreasing productivity in a small office environment.
