New Open Data GIS Launch Helps Earn Dutchess County
Best in Nation Top Ten Ranking for 20th Consecutive Year
Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Government’s continued commitment to provide innovative technology initiatives to residents and businesses, including the recent launch of Dutchess County Office of Central and Information Services’ (OCIS) new open data portal for Geographic Information System (GIS) datasets, has again earned Dutchess County national recognition. Dutchess County is ranked 5th in the nation among mid-size county governments for its use of technology in the 2022 Digital Counties Survey conducted by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo).
The new GIS open data portal includes dozens of geographical datasets that are available for review and download including locations of municipal services, addresses and emergency response information, countywide election districts, as well as watersheds and drainage basins. Previously, downloads of these datasets were considered custom requests, which could include a fee based on the type of request. Now, organizations and businesses, as well as the public can easily access the County’s GIS data for a wide variety of projects, including general information as well as economic development, city planning, and many other purposes.
Downloaded datasets available for free to the public on the new GIS hub include:
- Address points
- Local resources such as Adult Care Facilities and Nursing Homes; EMS, Fire, and Police stations; Town Halls and Highway Garages; Hospitals and others
- Contours
- Drainage Basins and Sub-Basins
- Municipal Boundaries
- Rail Roads and Stations
- Roads and Road Edges
- Senior Friendship Centers
- Watersheds
The Open Data GIS hub does not include parcels or real property data as that data is maintained by the County’s Department of Finance’s Real Property Tax Division and is available to search on the Parcel Access application.
The Open Data GIS hub is the newest feature in the County’s extensive lineup of GIS applications, including:
- Parks & Trails – information on nearly 200 parks, 380 miles of trails and a large selection of 360-degree photos.
- Parcel Access – property boundaries and extensive property information, including wetlands, flood zones, elevations, and others.
- Address Info-Finder – a tool to verify official addresses within Dutchess County and generate reports for related elected officials, road authorities, emergency services agencies, and more.
- Bike Dutchess – bicycle parking and routes throughout the county.
- Historic Resource Survey Viewer – maps and related historic documents following the 1980s review of landscape and cultural assets.
“In our increasingly complex world, counties are using technology to pursue bold, cutting-edge approaches to serving our residents,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “From broadband accessibility to public health and safety, from transportation to community development and much more, technology plays a key role in helping our counties thrive. We applaud this year’s Digital Counties Survey winners for their leadership, innovation, and expertise in leveraging technology to achieve county goals.”
OCIS Commissioner Glenn Marchi, Ph.D., said, “The Dutchess County Office of Central and Information Services team continues to find and implement creative and innovative technology solutions for residents and businesses throughout the county. This consistent recognition is a testament to the hard work of the team at OCIS. It is an honor and a privilege to work alongside these dedicated individuals.