Cramahe moves into computer age mapping

Cramahe Township will join most of the other municipalities in Northumberland County and use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping.

Township Bylaw Enforcement Officer, Jim Harris, explained to council that GIS is the new way of mapping. It will save staff time and provide up-to-date maps. It can be used to help locate new roads, find underground pipes, and assist with zoning and ownership questions. Other features will allow map readers to determine elevations, and the township can add features like gutters as they are completed.

Mr. Harris suggested the township save money by joining a county coalition which is putting a GIS platform together.

Deputy Mayor, Jim Williams was very enthusiastic about the proposal. He had seen what it could do at a February, 2009 Good Roads convention.It would help with the maintenance of roads.

Mayor, Marc Coombs, had seen an earlier version 10 years ago at Sir Sandford Fleming College and had been very impressed.

Councillor Ed Van Egmond wondered about privacy issues. In response, Mr. Harris described in some detail how the information is gathered.

Later in his presentation the Bylaw Enforcement Officer explained how it could be used by emergency response teams. Cobourg has the floor plans of its municipal buildings filed in the system so emergency workers can know where people might be located in a fire.

Economic development could be promoted by placing some of the GIS information on the township website.

The township has $12,000 available this year for the work but Mayor Coombs says it will cost a lot less than that.

Council’s approval of the plan was required before the Northumberland GIS Co-operative Committee to proceed with a needs assessment, strategic plan and implementation plan.