How GIS Works in Salem

GIS is deployed and used actively in 10 of 14 city departments.  GIS staff are distributed throughout these departments, with GIS Professionals located in three departments: Community Development, Information Technology, and Public Works. 

Salem uses a hybrid approach to GIS technology delivery, with hardware, software, data, and policy centralized in IT, and GIS staff distributed among departments.

The City of Salem GIS Professionals are:

Community Development
Alan Kessler, GIS Analyst
David Winegardner, GIS Analyst

Information Technology
Susan Blohm, GIS Supervisor
JoAnne Ganoe, GIS Programmer/Analyst
Daniel Brown, GIS Programmer/Analyst
Jim Moore, GIS Technician

Public Works
John Smith, GIS Supervisor
Pat Keith, GIS Enginnering Technician
Steve Petersen, GIS Enginnering Technician
Kirk Bartruff, GIS Enginnering Technician
Eunice Overhulser, GIS Enginnering Technician

GIS Professionals in the city combine to make a complete team that is responsible for the hardware, software, data, staff, and policy.  GIS staff have different responsibilites such as web development, GIS infrastructure, data management, spatial analysis, map production, technical support, and data entry. 

Department/Division Samples

Below are descriptions and samples of how GIS Works in Salem within city departments and divisions:

Community Development

Two GIS professionals produce data and maps that assists in zoning, land uses, and ward boundaries.  Primary work involves annexations, zoning, comprehensive plans, land use, urban renewal projects, neighborhood associations, parks master plans, and wetlands mapping.

Amanda Permit System

Community Enforcement

RegGIS is used by Community Enforcement to map enforcement compliants and to display other GIS information in the field.

RegGIS for Community Enforcement

Fire

The Fire Department utilizes GIS for incident response, resource deployment, and strategic planning analysis. GIS allows the Fire Department to cross reference many different types of information such as call load, population base, topography, and driving distance to continually refine and enhance its service delivery to the citizens of Salem, and the Salem Suburban Rural Fire Protection District. Below are some examples of GIS applied to fire department processes.

Fire Truck Maps

Information Technology

Information Technology administers the hardware, software, and policy issues with the GIS.  IT also operates the web development, database, network, and servers for the system.  Address information is maintained by IT.   IT also is involved with elevation models and emergency situational maps.

Library

The library uses GIS to determine if a card holder lives within the City of Salem.

RegGIS use in Library

Parks

Parks utilizes GIS for park master plan analysis, park acquistion, sensitive area management, mapping for reports and public information, and management of city street trees.

Police

GIS is used to plot aerial photos for SWAT briefings,  for neighborhood associations crime maps, school buffer maps, and to plot stolen and recovered stolen vehicles.

School Buffer Map

Public Works

Public Works has the most staff users of GIS data and software in the city.  Sewer, storm, and water utilities are maintained in GIS.  Public Works also manages GIS data for city limits, street information, aerial images, and transportation systems.

Aerials

WVCC-911

The 911 computer system uses a mapcentric approach to deliverying dispatching services.  Dispatchers view maps on their computer screens of streets and addresses, to assist them when taking calls and talking to emergency staff.  GIS stores address, street, and emergency dispatch information.

Dispatch Boundaries