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/