Faulkner County Centerline File Updated on GeoStor

Thanks to the addressing officials in Faulkner County, the Arkansas Centerline File is updated on GeoStor.

To download the data:  http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=7628086e5ee8eef5bdb16ed5a91f47a9

To download from FTP: ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/

Thanks to the Faulkner County OEM, Jason Lyon at Conway Planning, and all of the state's addressing officials for providing their data for public use on GeoStor!

Jackson County Parcel Update on GeoStor [Points and Polygons]

New parcels are available on GeoStor.  This load includes updates to Jackson County.

Download:
[Polygons] http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=813fbf4d2f116aa9ec7111873d922557

[Centroid Points]: http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=7245838e4221a2b6f342e7254db5236e

FTP:  ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/ [CADAS_DBO_PARCEL_POLYGON_CAMP]

Thanks to the Jackson County Assessor's Office for providing this data for public dissemination on GeoStor!

We Are Listening: GeoStor Survey Results

On May 24th, we opened up a GeoStor survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VCTLX9F) to gauge your current usage and your future needs regarding GeoStor.  In the past month, we have received 57 responses -- it is still open and please feel free to take the survey if you have not already done so -- and we would like to let you know the current results and answer a few of your questions.

Question 1:  How would you rate your GIS experience level?

• Expert:  42.11%
• Average: 52.63%
• Novice: 5.26%

This range of expertise is in line with our expectations regarding those filling out this survey.  However, this is not indicative of those using GeoStor.  For instance, many "novice" users do not subscribe to the listserve, follow us on twitter, etc.  Therefore, many "novice" users did not know about the survey.  The AGIO will keep this in mind during the upgrade process.

Question 2:  Which Software Packages do you use...

• Esri-55
• MapInfo- 1
• Microstation- 3
• GeoMedia- 2
• AutoCAD- 7
• Google Maps/ Earth- 19
• Open-source Web- 5
• Open-source Desktop- 13

Question 3:  How often do you visit the GeoStor website?

• 1 to 25 times per year- 55.36%
• 26-50 times per year- 35.71%
• I am addicted to GeoStor (50+)- 8.93%

We are trying our best to make sure more people fall in the third category...

Question 4:  I need the ability to... (Ranked on a scale of 1-5 in order of need)

• Clip/Zip/Ship - 4.12 out of 5
• FTP- 3.98 out of 5
• Data sent to email- 3.93 out of 5
• Web Services- 3.82 out of 5
• Project data- 3.70 out of 5

According to these results, the majority of the 57 respondents strongly want clip/zip/ship and FTP as the preferred method of getting data from GeoStor.

Question 5:  Do you currently use GeoStor's web services?

• Yes- 54.39%
• No- 35.09%
• GeoStor has web services- 10.53%

We were pleased to see that so many of the 57 respondents currently use web services.  While these services are basic right now, the upgrade plans for GeoStor include more functionality and new services.

Question 6:   Please rank the following possible download options for GeoStor.

• Option 1- Current system of clip/zip/ship -> E-mail- 2.5 out of 3
• Option 2- Current system with desktop download option- 1.88 out of 3
• Option 3- I don't care as long as I get the data- 1.63 out of 3

We are currently testing the ability for the user to request data results via e-mail or desktop.  In these tests, e-mail is still preferable for larger files, but for smaller ones the desktop download works well.

Question 7:   True of False: I would rather connect to GeoStor through Web Services rather than request a download.

•  True-  38.6%
•  False- 35.09%
•  I do not care- 26.32%

As mentioned above, a lot of enhancements to the Web Services are in the works and much more functionality is on the way.  Both methods will remain after the GeoStor upgrade, but the AGIO is trying to get a feel for which options will be used in the future in order to select the new backend architecture, software, etc.

Question 8:  I would like to see GeoStor implement more open-source technology and features.

• True- 45.61%
• False- 3.51%
• I do not care- 50.88%

In order to better serve the growing use of open-source technologies and to offer more services in a budget friendly manner, the AGIO is looking into a wide array of possible open-source solutions and services.  

Question 9: Comments
There were some great comments from the 57 respondents.  Some of them are worth mentioning/ answering since many of you may have the same questions.

A) Historic Maps-  One respondent raised the question of an historic maps layer.  There are currently download options on GeoStor for Historic Maps from the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department  (http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=ec5d9617d40f206dfdd7a45e1028acb6) and General Land Office Plats (http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?q=GLO) thanks to the Commissioner of State Lands Office and the work of the folks at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.  The AGIO is also developing a substantial data archival plan to make sure that digital snapshots of the state's GIS data are preserved for future generations needing historical data from our current digital age.  These are just a few historic map initiatives underway, but if you have any questions or suggestions, please let us know.

B) "Develop a site optimized for mobile devices."
Responsive web design for mobile devices will be a feature in the GeoStor upgrade. Shelby Johnson will be all the beta testing we need on this component...

C) "Design a site with an increased emphasis on 'information' sharing as well as data sharing."
This will be one of the main goals of the GeoStor upgrade.  All of the GeoStor frontend code, files, and even the search database will be available in a public repository on GitHub.  GeoStor will also have a built in blog and relevant information for the state's GIS community will be on the front-page.  In short, information sharing will be a substantial component to the new GeoStor.

D) "Make it faster"
We are working on this one...

E) "A larger, longer lasting thumbnail screen"
Thumbnails will have a completely different look, will be more aesthetically pleasing, and give you a better idea of what data you are downloading.

F) "Can you wait 3 years [to upgrade GeoStor], I'll be retired by then!! lol"
We could, but what is the fun in that? haha

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the survey.  If you haven't completed the survey, please take a moment to do so.  We are listening and your comments, ideas, questions, limericks, etc and they are vital in determining future GeoStor enhancements.  GeoStor exists to provide you with information and data, so let us know what you want.  If you would like to make direct comments regarding this subject, shoot us an e-mail at GeoStor@Arkansas.gov.

Address Centerline File Updated on GeoStor

Thanks to efforts of addressing officials in Saline County, the Arkansas Centerline File is updated on GeoStor.

To download the data:  http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?q=acf

To download from FTP: ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/

To see the status of the ACF:  http://www.gis.arkansas.gov/Programs/acf_stat.html

Thanks to the efforts of the state's county and municipal addressing officials, sixteen (16) counties have been updated on GeoStor in 2014!

ZIP+4® Centroids Updated on GeoStor

ZIP+4® centroid coordinates have been updated statewide.  This update includes new records assigned by the US Postal Service.

For history on the publication of ZIP+4® centroid coordinates visit this article.

ZIP+4® on GeoStor: http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=6e7404d488159239cc34c09c01f4e4b5

ZIP+4® on Statewide FTP: ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/ 

TITLE: LOCAT_ZIP_PLUS_4

Five AHTD Layers Updated on GeoStor

The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department updated five layers on GeoStor.

Highway Linear Referencing System: http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=7b1469ed25e4efd9e30c4cfe34b8565c

Arkansas Posted Highway Bridges:  http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=771e42615f33ac50554f2bf1ea3e34ab

Arkansas Road Inventory: http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=a53d3a41ed9e30cc3d910621b278d220

Points Off System 100 Feet:  http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=ac3d0556d6ae4cd9b74ae0272ee3ee67

Points On System 100 Feet:  http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=59d3182fd63eba8eb12ec0c37f387823

All of this data is available on Statewide FTP:  ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/

Thanks to Sharon Hawkins, Greg Cullum, and everyone at the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department's Mapping Section for updating this data on GeoStor!

Updated Public School Boundary on GeoStor

Due to the recent consolidation of Stephens School District into Magnolia, Camden Fairview, and Nevada School Districts, the Arkansas Department of Education requested that the AGIO update the statewide Public School boundary file on GeoStor.  All portions of Stephens falling in Columbia County goes to Magnolia; Ouachita County to Camden Fairview, and; Nevada County to Nevada.

This annexation -- along with the recent annexation of  Norphlet School District into Smackover School District -- shall be effective on July 1, 2014.

This new file may be downloaded here:  http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=578e05a6a4ee0e7e3838d8124230c427 or downloaded statewide on the FTP site: ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/

Maintenance to GeoStor Complete

The unscheduled maintenance to GeoStor is complete.  All services should be functioning normally at this time.  Thank you for your patience.

Hardware Update to GeoStor, June 16 @5:30pm

There will be unscheduled hardware maintenance to GeoStor today, June 16, at 5:30pm.  Please be aware that this may cause an interruption to GeoStor services.  We will alert the GIS community via e-mail, blog post, and twitter when the maintenance is complete.

Sorry for any inconvenience this may be to you and/or your organization.

New Parcel Centroids Loaded on GeoStor

1,573,949 Parcel Points are on now available on GeoStor.  This layer is a combination of existing parcel points and centroids created from the new parcel layer.

Download: http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=813fbf4d2f116aa9ec7111873d922557

FTP: ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/

Thanks to all of the counties that provided this information for public use through GeoStor!

Arkansas Parcels Reach 1.5 Million Mark

Arkansas Counties have now published over 1.5 million (1,546,651 to be exact) parcel polygons on GeoStor.  This update includes fifteen (15) first time counties and today's load includes parcels within sixty-two (62) of Arkansas' seventy-five (75) counties.

Check out the interactive CAMP status map here:  http://www.gis.arkansas.gov/Programs/camp_stat.html

The new counties uploaded include:  Bradley, Calhoun, Cleburne, Cleveland, Dallas, Drew, Hempstead, Izard, Lawrence, Lonoke, Monroe, Ouachita, Scott, St. Francis and Woodruff Counties.  Updates include Randolph and Garland Counties.

Download: http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=813fbf4d2f116aa9ec7111873d922557

FTP: ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/

This is a big milestone for Arkansas! Thanks to all of the local counties, cities, contractors, Maria Owen here at the AGIO, and everyone else involved in this effort to make this data available to the public through GeoStor.  Work continues on the remaining parcels and we will post them to GeoStor as soon as they are available.

New Public Land Survey System (PLSS) Dataset Loaded on GeoStor

The Arkansas Geographic Information Office (AGIO) is proud to announce that the Cadastral National Spatial Data Infrastructure (CadNSDI) Public Land Survey System (PLSS) datasets for Arkansas are now available on GeoStor.

Download: geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?q=BLM

FTP: ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/

This dataset is the same spatial alignment as the previous PLSS datasets on GeoStor provided by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department’s Mapping Section.  However, this dataset now follows Cadastral National Spatial Data Infrastructure (CadNSDI) standardization formats specifically laid out by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Subcommittee on Cadastral Data. This data set will now be the official PLSS GIS data set for the State of Arkansas and the AGIO is now the data steward for these layers.

According to the Handbook for Standardized PLSS Data, “The Public Land Survey System (PLSS) is a way of subdividing and describing land in the United States. All lands in the public domain are subject to subdivision by this rectangular system of surveys, which is regulated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM).”

Below are short descriptions (http://nationalcad.org/download/cadnsdi-plss-handbook)  for each of the data sets posted on GeoStor:

• PLSS_FIRSTDIVISION_BLM

            The PLSS First Division is commonly the section but can also be lots or protracted blocks. This feature class is the first set of divisions for a PLSS Township. If the first division is a section the nominal size is one mile on a side and 640 acres, but actual sections will vary. Symbolizing this feature class on the first division type will help GIS users see where sections exist and where other types of divisions are used to divide the PLSS Townships.

• PLSS_INTERSECTED_BLM

            The fully intersected data is the atomic level of the PLSS that is similar to the Esri coverage or the smallest pieces used to build the PLSS. Polygons may overlap in this feature class. This feature class will also contain retired or replaced areas of the PLSS. The fully intersected polygons are used for conversion and for maintenance. This contains the atomic and fully attributed components of the other PLSS features. This is the feature class used to derive other feature classes in this feature data set. This feature class also contains retired or replaced features.

• PLSS_POINTS_BLM

            TThese are the corners of the PLSS. This feature class contains summary information about the coordinate location and reliability of corner coordinate

information. Alternate names or aliases for corners are also included in this feature class. The PLSSPoint feature class provides the essential observed coordinate information for PLSS

corners. This is not the complete data set for corners. These are the most current coordinates and a summary of information about the accuracy and quality of the coordinate values. Contact the identified Data Steward for more information.

• PLSS_SPECIALSURVEY_BLM

            This feature class contains the PLSS Special Surveys that are nonrectangular components of the PLSS from BLM survey records. These special survey areas are generated from combinations of special survey codes, designators, notes and suffix information in the PLSSIntersected feature class. These are the graphic representation of non-rectangular PLSS components determined from surveys reflecting official BLM records. In many cases the non-rectangular components in this feature class are essential to completing the PLSS representation for many GIS applications.

• PLSS_SURVEYSYSTEM_BLM

            A Survey System is a named or numbered area of land that can be identified by a type and a designator. The survey system is generally a simultaneous conveyance that defines an area of land within which there is a consistent method of land description. The survey systems included lands that were established prior to PLSS survey and were not included in the public domain lands. Non-rectangular components of the PLSS are in the PLSS Special Surveys feature class. The first, second and third division attributes are provided if available. For more information, go to the Cadastral National Spatial Data Infrastructure (CadNSDI) handbook at: http://nationalcad.org/download/cadnsdi-plss-handbook/

           

• PLSS_TOWNSHIPS_BLM

            This feature class contains the Public Land Survey System Townships that are the primary unit of survey for the PLSS, nominally six miles on a side, usually containing 36 sections. PLSS Townships are numbered from base lines and principal meridians. This feature class provides the polygons for the PLSS Townships. These polygons are built from the PLSS Fully Intersected feature class by dissolving on the PLSSID in the PLSSIntersected feature class.

            Having the PLSS data organized into this standard will allow counties, state agencies, and other stakeholders to systematically improve the quality of this information over time.  As new location data becomes available --  such as coordinates for recovered corners, improved parcel mapping or other field collected data -- the AGIO will be able to edit the PLSS data.  The expectation is that these improvements will arrive slowly over the next decade.

Further information for these data sets may be found in their corresponding metadata, by going to http://nationalcad.org/download/cadnsdi-plss-handbook, or by contacting the Arkansas Geographic Information Office.

Thanks to Robert Mandzi, the BLM Eastern States Geographic Coordinate Data Base (GCDB) Manager;  Nancy von Meyer, of Fairview Industries, and; Premier Data Services (an IHS company) of Arvada Colorado for their work on this dataset and their assistance in loading this data on GeoStor!

Parcel Update on GeoStor: Five New Counties and Twenty Updated

New parcels are available on GeoStor.  This update includes new data for five (5) counties:  Lee, Lincoln, Marion, Prairie, and Union Counties.

Also included in this load are updates to twenty (20) counties:  Baxter, Chicot, Clark, Clay, Conway, Craighead, Cross, Faulkner, Hot Spring, Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Logan, Mississippi, Pike, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Washington, and White Counties.

Download: http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=813fbf4d2f116aa9ec7111873d922557

FTP:  ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/ [CADAS_DBO_PARCEL_POLYGON_CAMP]

Thanks to the County Assessor's in each of these counties for providing this data for public dissemination on GeoStor!

Two New Counties: Address Point File Updated on GeoStor

The Address Point File (APF) is updated on GeoStor.  This update includes -- for the first time -- address points for Chicot and Prairie Counties.  This new dataset is provided to you through a joint partnership with Chicot and Prairie Counties, Connect-Arkansas and the Arkansas Geographic Information Office.  This brings the total number of 911 address points residing on GeoStor to 1,196,860!  Counties, municipalities and other addressing officials are doing some impressive work to bring the vision of a statewide addressing point file from that, a vision, to reality.

Download:  http://1.usa.gov/1kMCge7

FTP: ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/  (Filenames: STRUC_SITUS_ADDRESS_PT)

Thanks to Chicot, Prairie, and all of the state's county 911 addressing officials for sharing their data with the public through GeoStor.

22 City Boundaries from AHTD Updated on GeoStor

Thanks to the Mapping Section at the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, twenty-two (22) city boundaries are updated on GeoStor.

This update includes:  Allport, Arkadelphia, Austin, Blytheville, Cabot, Caddo Valley, Carlisle, Coy, England, Gosnell, Haskell, Hot Springs, Humnoke, Lonoke, Malvern, Manila, McCaskill (de-annexation), Mountain Home, Perla, Rockport, Traskwood, and Ward.

To download:  http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?id=1f4dfda9fa79232c7ccda59c3e3f7102

To download on FTP:  ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/

Thanks again to Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department's Mapping Section for providing this data for free public distribution on GeoStor!

Arkansas Centerline File Update for Four Counties

Thanks to efforts of addressing officials in Hempstead, Polk, Poinsett and Prairie Counties, there are now four new updates in the Arkansas Centerline File on GeoStor.

To download the data:  http://www.geostor.arkansas.gov/G6/Home.html?q=acf

To download from FTP: ftp://ftp.geostor.arkansas.gov/Public_Statewide/

To see the status of the ACF:  http://www.gis.arkansas.gov/Programs/acf_stat.html

Thanks to the efforts of the state's county and municipal addressing officials, fifteen (15) counties have been updated on GeoStor in 2014!