GIS Services

Custom Mapping

Whether you’re in sales and need a map of your prospects or a utility company that wants to illustrate where their facilities are, GIS Mapping Solutions has your needs covered with our Custom Mapping Services


		Data Maps		Publication Maps
		Push Pin Maps		Sales Territory Maps
		Delivery Maps		Business Location Maps
		Publication Maps		Thematic Mapping
		Census Data Maps		Crime Risk Maps
		Drive/Distance Maps		Yellow Page Advertising Maps
		Demographic Maps

GeoCoding

Geocoding is a process by which a common address becomes geographic information. The geocoding process converts address information to latitude/longitude coordinates.

Attaching coordinates to your location data brings the *Power of GIS* to your decision making processes.

What can GeoCoding do for you?

GeoCoding brings your locational data to life. GeoCoding allows for your locations to be plotted on a map. Data that was once rows and columns are now represented as spatial objects. You can now see geographic patterns, spatial overlay, and distribution. GeoCoding also plays an important role in customer profiling, and market analysis. By appending GeoCoded information to demographic data one can analyze growing markets, sales, future sales territories, and much more.

Who uses GeoCoding?


		Police Departments (crime analysis)		Banks (branch/ customer analysis)
		Fire Departments (incident analysis)		Insurance Companies (risk analysis)
		Real Estate (location analysis)		Restaurant Chains (customer)
		Retail Industry (customer tracking)		Utility Industry (billing, customers)

Levels of GeoCoding

		Addressed-Based (Most accurate level of GeoCoding requiring street address) *Most Accurate*
		Best Method (Matches all possible street level address and gradually decreases accuracy to Zip Centroid)
		Zip Centroid (Assigns zip codes to the geographic center of zip boundary) *Least Accurate*

*We can help you decide what Geocoding technique is right for your business!*


Data Integration

GIS Mapping Solutions can integrate spatial data (maps), databases, and queries into one user-friendly system. GIS should be viewed as a process rather than a software or hardware (technology integrator). GIS is a layering process! By layering information, GIS can reveal spatial relationships, trends, and answer real world problems. For example:

An account manager wants to market a new product line within a specific sales territory, but the account manager only wants to focus on Home Depots with a specific demographic profile. What do we need to perform this analysis?

	Layer 1: Sales territory (map)
	Layer 2: Home Depot Store Locations (database)
	Layer 3: Census data or demographic profile data (database)

The first step would be to create a sales territory layer in the GIS. After the sales territory layer is created, we need to develop/ acquire a database for Home Depot locations. This database would be the source for Geocoding. Geocoding is a process that converts address information to map information (latitude & longitude coordinates). Now we can overlay Home Depot Stores with our sales territory boundary. At this point, the account manager can now analyze which stores fall within the sales territory. Our product line is very audience specific so we need to agree on a demographic target (age, income, gender, etc.). Demographic data comes in many flavors: Census 2000, custom surveys, data providers, and MapInfo. The final step would be to query/analyze the store locations that fall within our sales territory boundary that fit your target profile.

Location specific-data can be found in nearly 85% of all databases. Because of this, GIS / mapping can be used in nearly every business function. From sales to banking, real estate to public utilities. GIS Mapping Solutions can provides solutions to your business challenges by applying GIS to your key business processes.

Data Conversion

Data is the key ingredient in every GIS. Data conversion and integration are the true challenges in every GIS. Before any data conversion process, some questions need to be answered:


		What data/maps do you use to perform your business functions?
		What data do you need to achieve your goals?
		What level of accuracy is required?

The first step in you data conversion process is to take inventory of your existing data: CAD drawings, maps, as-built drawings, customer databases, scanned images, billing database, aerial photos, and any existing GIS data. Data conversion is typically the most expensive component to a GIS. Therefore, by utilizing your current data one can save time and money. For example, a public utility company wants to develop GIS. They currently use AutoCAD for their mapping. Depending on the condition of the CAD drawings, this public utility may have several options available to them:


		Convert the CAD to GIS		Combination CAD & GPS
		Digitize Hardcopy Maps to GIS format		Combination of CAD & GPS & Digitizing
		Combination Digitize & GPS

GIS Accuracy and Data Conversion

Usually business functions will help determine the correct data conversion process. Are you going to use this data for modeling, sales research, asset management? Certain business functions require greater accuracy!
*What Level of Accuracy does your business function require?*


GIS Training

Get the most out of your GIS with GIS Mapping Solutions’ custom training courses. Each training class will be tailored to your specific needs. GMS can provide one on one training as well as group training. Whether you're in sales, planning, utilities, you can learn the features of GIS and the functions that help you do your job better.

		Introduction / Intermediate / Advance ArcView
		Introduction / Intermediate / Advance ArcGIS
		Introduction / Intermediate / Advance MapInfo
		MapMarker (GeoCoding)
		Custom Courses
		Examples: Data Conversion, Mapping Techniques, Spatial Analysis, and " What is GIS?"


GPS Services

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide radio-navigation system formed from a constellation of 24 satellites and their ground stations. GPS uses satellites and their ground stations as “man-made stars” as a reference point to calculate position. GPS technology has various forms for accuracy depending on the GPS receiver and the collection process. Usually, collection process is determined by GIS application. For example, a utility company may require sub meter accuracy for manhole collection while a school district may require 100 feet accuracy for school locations. GIS Mapping Solutions can help determine your needs for GPS services. Here are a few examples where GPS can be used for data collection.


	Valve Collection	Points of Interest
	Manhole Collection	Streets
	Fire Hydrant Collection	Environmental Features
	Sign Collection	School Locations
	Parks/ Recreational Facilities
	Office Locations / Company Assets

*Bringing the Power of GPS to your business function!*

AM/FM Mapping (Automated Mapping / Facilities Management)

AM/FM Mapping should be an integral part of every utility company. This industry deals with a mountain of geographic information. The water and sewer industry must keep track of the location and condition of water mains, valves, hydrants, meters, storage facilities, sewer mains, and manholes. GIS provides the platform to integrate your locational data (values, water mains, etc.) with maintenances schedules, billing, customer complaints, and even digital photos. Here are some benefits of AM/FM mapping:


		Increased Mapping Productivity		Spatial Analysis
		Integrates work orders / billing / maintenance		Data Integration
		Network Analysis		Facilitate Planning
		Analyze Security Issues		Asset Management
		Complaint Tracking (Customer Service)		Cost Savings
		Improve Data Quality		Increased Data Access
		Improved Engineering & Operational Efficiency		Modeling
		Data Archiving (Paper to Digital)

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