Follow the the link below for a short story regarding webcasting West Virginia legislative session.
http://olive.dominionpost.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=RFBvc3QvMjAwOS8wNy8xMSNBcjAwNzAz&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Technology Interim Committee
This past week the legislature met in regularly scheduled meetings to discuss various study resolutions approved during regular session. The lone exception to this rule is committees like Technology, which have the freedom to determine their own agenda. While the committee does have an agenda of issues to study, we also hear from various organizations which update the committee on technology changes across the mountain state.
As a member of the technology Committee for the past 3 years, I have been fortunate to see firsthand the changes made to internet service across the state and updates to our mapping of taxable land parcels. Although, both have a long ways to go before we can say we provide every resident with internet service or that we know where all parcels are located, none the less, it’s still comforting to know that we as a state are moving in the right direction.
For more years than I can recall, counties and municipalities have cried out for assistance in cataloging land parcels and apart from physically standing on a street corner to ascertain the information little has been done to update our county maps.
While a large portion of the state still relies on field agents to determine whether or not a parcel exists, Parkersburg, WV on the other hand is but one of a few municipalities which generates digital mapping via goggle map or real time fly over’s. As matter fact, the expense in moving to digital mapping has more than paid for itself, as recently discovered parcels are now being taxed and in some cases back taxes are being collected due to this digital system upgrade.
Entering the mapping stage is the opportunity to overlay additional maps that indicate all physical buildings in a given region. The purpose for this additional overlay is numerous, for example, it could be used to identify areas which may be prone to hazard waste, areas which could be classified as a need for additional security, or even used for planning escape routes during an emergency scenario. The benefits are practically limitless.
While we do have the topography issues to overcome, I am confident WV will see full internet service before too much more time passes, however, I am not so sure we will see detailed state wide mapping as numerous communities across the state still prefer the antiquated present system. Unfortunately, this issue may only be resolved with pressure from the legislature to make the switch by a predetermined future date…only time will tell.
As a member of the technology Committee for the past 3 years, I have been fortunate to see firsthand the changes made to internet service across the state and updates to our mapping of taxable land parcels. Although, both have a long ways to go before we can say we provide every resident with internet service or that we know where all parcels are located, none the less, it’s still comforting to know that we as a state are moving in the right direction.
For more years than I can recall, counties and municipalities have cried out for assistance in cataloging land parcels and apart from physically standing on a street corner to ascertain the information little has been done to update our county maps.
While a large portion of the state still relies on field agents to determine whether or not a parcel exists, Parkersburg, WV on the other hand is but one of a few municipalities which generates digital mapping via goggle map or real time fly over’s. As matter fact, the expense in moving to digital mapping has more than paid for itself, as recently discovered parcels are now being taxed and in some cases back taxes are being collected due to this digital system upgrade.
Entering the mapping stage is the opportunity to overlay additional maps that indicate all physical buildings in a given region. The purpose for this additional overlay is numerous, for example, it could be used to identify areas which may be prone to hazard waste, areas which could be classified as a need for additional security, or even used for planning escape routes during an emergency scenario. The benefits are practically limitless.
While we do have the topography issues to overcome, I am confident WV will see full internet service before too much more time passes, however, I am not so sure we will see detailed state wide mapping as numerous communities across the state still prefer the antiquated present system. Unfortunately, this issue may only be resolved with pressure from the legislature to make the switch by a predetermined future date…only time will tell.
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