Nelson County’s new GIS system's appearance and navigation differ from those of the former system, and it includes several additional features
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Go here to check out the new Nelson County GIS system. It’s free and no account is necessary.
Some of Wintergreen’s mountain properties are in Augusta County; see its GIS system here.
Nelson County launched a new GIS system in April. Glen Yi and Susan Rorrer, who are part of the department responsible for maintaining the county's system, explained that the county wasn't seeking a new system; rather, the firm that had been hosting what they had was quitting the business. Civic Vanguard, a Richmond-based firm, provides the service now. It’s the same, but different–and a little better.
GIS stands for Geographic Information System. The systems are used to link maps with other geographic information, such as property ownership, which is more than handy for local governments.
Asked if the new system was better than what they had, Ye and Rorrer said it was.
“Only primary addresses came up on a search in our old system. Now, any valid address comes up,” Yi noted. While the new system continues to incorporate data from the Commissioner of Revenue, which maintains taxable owner records for real estate parcels, a database of additional addresses is now part of Nelson County’s GIS system.
The new system also features more overlay maps and additional options, including a function that can “save” a search. (It’s accessible through the blue navigation bar that floats at the top of the map under “Places.”)
The base map “Terrain with labels” offers insights on mountain properties.
-Charles Batchelor
