City of Saginaw, Michigan

What is Geographical Information Systems (GIS)?

GIS is all around us in our everyday lives and we may not even see it. Have you ever googled a route to an unknown destination? Or used street view to prepare for an upcoming trip? Looked up information at the satellite photos online? Used Facebook or 4 Square to log your location and see where other friends are? If you answered yes, then GIS is all around in us. As maps and mobile devices become more a part of our lives, GIS will continue to grow in its uses.

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) integrates hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.

How Does The City Use GIS?

This City has been slowly building its GIS information for all departments. Over the 15 plus years for the City, much information has been built. As a result of the information, much of the City of Saginaw's daily routine uses GIS.

Most departments in the City of Saginaw use GIS one way or another. The assessing departments uses it to help out assess the SEV of houses. The police use it for trials to help visually recreate the crime for the jury. Maintenance and Service uses it to help keep track of the water and sewer system for the City. Fire Department uses it to know what size hose they will need and where the nearest fire hydrant is. Engineering uses GIS to help determine which road needs to be repaired. Traffic Engineering uses GIS to keep track of all the traffic signals and street lights in the City. The City Clerk's office uses GIS for polling locations. Code Enforcement uses GIS for doing assessments on Dangerous Buildings before they can be knocked down.

Why GIS?

Nearly 80% of information housed in government is geographic in some way. In order to make informed and accurate decisions, all geographic information involved with a certain area must be known and understood. Efficient delivery and presentation of this geographic data is what we are all about.