Geographic Information Systems

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Applications and Mapping Services Unit was formed in late August of 1992 as a branch of the former EMA/Public Works/Survey - currently known as the OC Public Works (OC Public Works)/OC Survey.

This unit is responsible for analysis, development, construction and quality control of GIS application output and products, providing thematic mapping services and graphic analysis projects for various entities within the County structure. An example of the list of clients requesting GIS analysis and/or mapping services include:

The Orange County Board of Supervisors
OC Public Works
Executive Management
Management Services
OC Parks
Operations and Maintenance
Flood Program
Design
Transportation
OC Community Development

Environmental and Project Planning Services Current Planning Services
Building Inspection Services
Integrated Waste Management District
Orange County Transportation Authority
Housing and Community Development
Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo)
The Private Sector

Projects:

The following items are examples of principle GIS analysis and mapping projects, which require quality control and maintenance of thematic data sets currently existing in the GIS application database:

Upper Newport Bay Sediment Control and Enhancement Project

Analysis of Upper Newport Bay to study effects on habitat of sensitive and exotic species and vegetation regrowth in dredged areas to monitor the effects of the dredging operations on the various habitats impacted.

Regional Recreation and Open Space Lands

This project involves building themes for the various County, State and Federal recreation lands. Using legal source documents and the LIS Landbase, boundary lines can be accurately determined and captured in a digital format. This data set, in combination with natural resource data, can provide analysis based on these captured boundaries. An example being a map showing all vegetation types with acreage, for Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. Listed below are the GIS application themes for this data set:

Regional Parks/Preserves
State Parks/Reserves
National Forest/Federal Land
County Beaches
State Beaches
Marine Life Refuges

OC Parks Open Space Mapping:

This data set consists of 9 specific themes, representing the various easements offered and/or dedicated to the County upon recordation of Parcel Maps, Tract Maps and Records of Survey, within the Unincorporated Territory of Orange County. These 9 themes are updated and maintained on a regular basis due to the large number of maps submitted by the private sector for recordation. This data set also contains selected information for all properties in the 9 specific easement themes. This information includes: tract number, owner, easement type, acreage, date of recordation and the offered/accepted status. This GIS application assists in tracking a vast number of properties, which are subject to acquisition for development of future parks, trails, recreational facilities, golf courses and the preservation and maintenance of our natural resources.