BCS Web Map Services and Geocoding

In 2003, BCS partnered with IBM Global Services to develop two map-based information systems for use by citizens of the State of Arizona. These systems provide fast and accurate information over the web in response to queries that are spatial in nature. BCS used the efficient open source MapServer software system to implement the web mapping components of these systems.

The first system reduces the application times for certain construction projects. A web user specifies the location of the proposed construction in an interactive map window. This window shows the roads, and also displays the names of (and distances to) the nearest watercourse and perennial waterbody. Once the site has been specified, the software determines the erosivity (potential for erosion) for that location. If the site has a sufficiently low risk of erosion, and certain other criteria are satisfied, the system immediately notifies the user that the assessment process can be fast-tracked. This automated assessment of environmental risk facilitates the permitting process where appropriate, thus saving time and resources.

The second system uses fast geocoding techniques to analyze a user-input street address and identify the associated administrative region(s) and other information for the address. Examples of this information are county name, congressional district, senator, and school district. The geocoding first performs fuzzy matching on the address string to determine possible matches to roads. It then displays the matches so that the user can select a single entry if more than one match is found. Once the user confirms the correct match, the geocoding then translates these matches to spatial coordinates, and determines which administrative region polygon contains the point. The system then returns the associated information to the user, along with a map indicating the location of the address.