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Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County Launch New Web-Based GIS Mapping App

The City of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County have launched a new Web-based GIS application, mapWashtenaw, now available for use in a beta format at http://gisapp.ewashtenaw.org/mapwashtenaw/viewer.html.

The app is also linked on the city home Web page, www.a2gov.org, in the "working in" column.

This online GIS mapping application features rich base-mapping capabilities and real-time access to many other city and county geospatial datasets -- for example, aerial imagery is available from 1940 through 2010.

The project is part of an ongoing IT collaboration between the city and county. The new system was purchased collectively, is housed at the joint city-county data center, and is being co-managed and administered, providing each partner with cost savings and added efficiency benefits.

The ultimate goal of the project is to offer users highly scalable, best-in-class mapping and spatial-analysis capabilities that are easier to use and less complex than prior Web-based offerings at the same or less cost.

As users navigate around the maps, the interfaces will appear similar to other popular online mapping sites like Google Maps and Bing. Once the application has launched, the mouse wheel can be used to zoom in and out, along with click-and-drag navigation.

Clicking the mouse button will enable the following:
* Create a printable map
* Create a report
* Draw and markup a map
* Measure distances and area
* Share the map with others online
* Download information to Microsoft Excel.

The city and county say they welcome user feedback on this beta initiative. Please e-mail comments to city Applications Delivery Manager Russell Hanshue at rhanshue@a2gov.org.

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