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E w a i 1 N e w s l e t t e r
December 2006
Welcome to the twenty -third edition of the MassGIS GlSette, a bi- monthly newsletter e-
mailed to over 1200 of our users and partner agencies to keep them informed of data updates,
GIS events, and on -going technology developments. This newsletter will not replace more
focused e -mails that many of you currently receive. A page on our website has been created for
the GlSette. There you will find back issues of the GlSette and an online subscription form.
While our primary intent in publishing the GlSette is to disseminate information related to
MassGIS initiatives and data development in particular, we also see the GlSette as a means of
communicating public agency GIS news. So we encourage readers to send in updates or
announcements concerning public agencies that they would like included in the GlSette. We
particularly want to encourage submission of announcements concerning data development
projects. Announcements should be sent to Paul Nutting at paul.nutting@state.ma.us.
Strategic Plan for Massachusetts' Spatial Data Infrastructure
This is a reminder that MassGIS is holding six workshops around the Commonwealth to seek your
input for this important project. If you do plan on attending a workshop, please RSVP for a specific
workshop location to paul.nutting @state.ma.us; this will enable us to a) let you know about any
weather - related cancellation and b) send you a short list of questions that we will be asking you to
consider.
We realize that you are busy, but this is an important opportunity for you to influence this planning
process. The workshop dates and locations are:
January 9, 8:45 —
January 11, 8:45
January 16, 8:30
January 17, 8:30
January 23, 8:30
January 24, 8:30
12:45, Pittsfield
— 12:45, West Springfield
— 12:30, Lawrence
— 12:30, Auburn
- 12:30, Wareham
— 12:30, Boston
For more information about this strategic plan, including information about and directions to the
workshop locations, please visit http: / /www.mass.gov /mgis /stratplan.html. Thank you!
Web Site WIKI Now Open to Everyone
MassGIS now invites anyone to use its web mapping services! (Previously, the policy was to restrict
their use to government projects). A new Web site wiki has been created with a wide variety of content
to help users get familiar with the web services. On the site are tutorials, sample requests, and tips
and tricks. More content from MassGIS will follow, and we invite users to add their own useful
information, particularly about how the web services work within various types of software, from
ArcMap to Google Earth.
What can be done with web mapping services? Data can be incorporated into many types of
programs - from a user's desktop application to a Web application. The data is streamed from the
MassGIS server in real time. There is no need for the extra steps of downloading a shapefile to use
locally, and the data is always the most up -to -date. Datalayers can be drawn and queried (get
information about a feature, find features with certain types of qualities), addresses can be mapped
(geocoding), and points can be converted from one projection to another (for example, latitude and
longitude to state plane). The MassGIS Web services make it easier to incorporate a mapping
component into desktop or web applications.
If you have any questions about the MassGIS Web mapping services, feel free to email
Aleda.Freeman @state.ma.us or Saul.Farber @state.ma.us. In addition, if taking a class to learn more
about Web services fits your needs, there is an opportunity this spring. Saul will be teaching an
evening class at UMass Boston on learning about the WMS and WFS specifications in detail, and how
to apply them to your web - mapping projects. Contact Saul for further details.
What's in a Phrase?
In announcing our upcoming Strategic Plan workshops, MassGIS listed 4 GIS data "categories" that
would be the focus of those workshops. That list included reference to "property boundaries ". Since
releasing the workshop announcement, members of the Massachusetts Association of Land Surveyors
and Civil Engineers (MALSCE) have pointed out that the phrases "property boundaries" or "property
lines" should be used only to refer to property boundary mapping prepared by a Professional Land
Surveyor (PLS). The boundaries shown on an Assessor's map should be referred to as Assessor's
parcel lines.
They are absolutely correct on this point - in depicting the boundaries of land ownership on maps, it i
important to differentiate between "authoritative locations" (i.e., those that can only be determined by
PLS) and representations of boundaries suitable for general identification of ownership, relative
orientation, preliminary site planning, resource management, conservation planning and other such
uses that do not require a legally authoritative boundary determination. While this may seem both
obvious and minor, members of the general public often do not understand the distinction. As that
misunderstanding may have financial or legal repercussions for users of the data, it is important that
GIS professionals not only understand the difference, but help educate the public about it. MassGIS
recommends that municipalities producing maps using GIS software, whether paper or on -line, exter
their standard disclaimers to include the statement: "Individuals requiring an authoritative property
boundary or other location must retain the services of a professional land surveyor ".
MassGIS will be working to update its website to reflect the distinctions in this terminology. An
interesting further discussion of this issue in the broader context of professional ethics and map
accuracy can be found in this article.
Database Updates
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• DEP Wetlands (1:12,000) Data Updated - State Complete! - 12/22/2006
The final missing piece of the DEP Wetlands layer, a small area in the towns of Ayer and Harvard, has been
filled in, and the entire state is now complete! For more information, please see the Datalayer Description,
which includes links to free data download and an online wetlands map viewer.
• Title 5 Laver Updated - 12/26/06
Tiles for the Merrimack and Nashua watersheds were updated in conjunction with the completion of the DEP
Wetlands (1:12,000) layer. In August, tiles for all watersheds on the ftp site were replaced with new data as
the Title 5 layer was modified to include intermittent streams within Zone C's.
• 2 NHESP Layers Updated - 12/11/2006
The NHESP Priority Habitats and Estimated Habitats were amended in the towns of Lancaster and Truro on
December 1, 2006. These modifications are to the recent September update.
• Schools Layer Updated - 11/27/2006
The Schools (pre - kindergarten to high school) layer has been updated. There is a net gain of 48 school
points. The layer is up -to -date through August 3, 2006.
• MassDEP Oil and /or Hazardous Material Sites with Activity and Use Limitations (AUL) Layer Updated
- 11/14/2006
Updates made by MassDEP included 3 added sites.
• C21e Layer Updated - 11/14/2006
DEP GIS Group has updated the Tier Classified Chapter 21 E Sites datalayer. The update included: 37 sites
added and 119 removed.
What's New on the MassGIS Web Site
• Recapping GIS Day 2006 - 11/21/2006
See pictures from the November 16, 2006 event in Great Hall at the State House.
• Updated Municipal GIS and Parcel Status Maps - 11/7/2006
These maps, updated as of November, 2006, display the status of GIS and Digital Assessor Parcel Lines
Development across the Commonwealth.
MassGIS participating in the USGS National Map Viewer
Certain MassGIS datalayers are now being streamed to the USGS National Map Viewer
( http: / /nmviewogc.cr.usgs.gov /Run.htm) from the MassGIS Web mapping services. Layers can be
drawn and identified. (We're still working with USGS on getting legends and downloading to work).
Technical Details Corner
MassGIS has deployed its vector data in GeoServer 1.5. We are working on getting GeoServer to
work with SDE rasters (imagery). We plan to port OLIVER to GeoServer soon.
Events, Announcements and Staffing
MEMA Needs Your Help at the Community Level
eCEMP, the online electronic Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan for each town, has GIS
layers for download. Are you aware the program houses over 20,000 points statewide with layers
such as Infrastructure, Vulnerable Locations and many more? Contact your Community Emergency
Management Director (EMD) for access to eCEMP (http: / /www.mass.gov /MEMA under Key
Resources). It's easy access to online mapping! Work with your community EMD to maintain and
update these layers. It is the place to start!
Questions regarding eCemp: Rob.Sousa @state.ma.us
Questions about MEMA GIS: Johanna.meyer@state.ma.us
Any comments or suggestions about the GlSette are welcomed at paul.nutting ,state.ma.us.
MassGIS -The Commonwealth's Office of Geographic and Environmental Information is located
within the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and is charged with the collection, enhancement,
storage and dissemination of the Commonwealth's geographic data.
Massachusetts Geographic Information System (MassGIS)
251 Causeway St. Suite 500
Boston, MA 02114
http://www.mass.gov/mgis
Phone: (617) 626 -1000
Fax: (617) 626 -1249
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Christian Jacqz, Director
Robert W. Golledge, Jr., Secretary
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