Milton Launches New GIS Interactive Maps

MILTON, GA — For years, geography may have felt like places on a static map, but thanks to Geographic Information Systems, local governments like the city of Milton can bring those maps to life with all sorts of data available at the click of a mouse.

That's where "Milton On Demand" comes in! The city is launching a new GIS portal for the public, Milton On Demand or "The MOD" as it's referred to for short. GIS is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth's surface. The technology continues to evolve, but at its very core GIS is designed to combine the benefits of mapping and database operations such as query and analysis, resulting in a powerful visual which helps answer a question or tell the story through interactive maps.

The MOD is an easy way to access many of the GIS layers within Milton including parcels, neighborhoods, current zoning, and future land use to name a few. Milton GIS Manager Alicia Newberry has been preparing The MOD for its public debut over the last six months.

"Making this self-service portal available to Milton residents has been a challenging but rewarding project," said Newberry. "We're starting with basic information and general layers, but The MOD will continue to evolve and develop according to our citizens' needs."

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Milton On Demand can assist residents with something as simple as parcel identification, points of interest, or even help identify city council districts by street address. However, it can also help identify and educate residents on important community activities such as variance requests, building permits, and tree permits. Prior to its public launch, Milton residents and graduates of Milton's Citizens Government Academy piloted The MOD and offered helpful feedback to Milton's GIS team.

"We are committed to promoting transparency and making data accessible to our residents," said Mayor Joe Lockwood.

The MOD is available on the city's website. The page includes a glossary and basic navigation tips, and there's even basic and advanced video tutorials to assist the public with using The MOD. Residents, businesses, and other organizations are encouraged to share their feedback and suggestions with the Milton GIS team by emailing info@cityofmiltonga.us.

"The MOD is intended to provide real-time data specific to the city of Milton, creating even greater access to public data and information, " said City Manager Steven Krokoff. "This initial launch is just the beginning of what we are confident will be a powerful tool for our residents."

Image via screenshot of Milton On Demand