Tangipahoa Parish GIS

GIS stands for Geographic Information System.

As defined by ESRI®, a GIS is a system that creates, manages, analyzes, and maps all types of data, utilizing both hardware and software.

GIS connects data to a map, integrating location data with all types of descriptive information. This provides a foundation for mapping and analysis used in science and government, as well as throughout a host of industries worldwide.

GIS helps users understand patterns, relationships, and geographic contexts. The benefits include enhanced communication and efficiency, as well as improved decision-making.

It also refers to the field or industry collectively. GIS employs millions throughout the world, and was observed to have grown by 12% between 2021 and 2022 alone. It is currently expected to be the fastest growing global industry by 2030.

ESRI® stands for the Environmental Systems Research Institute based in Redlands, California.

Founded by Jack and Laura Dangermond in 1969, ESRI® distinguished itself in the field by adopting a geographic approach to problem solving, empowered by state-of-the-art GIS technology. This approach established the benchmark for the emerging GIS industry.

ESRI® has since grown to become the industry leader in GIS software, location intelligence, and mapping. Today, ESRI® products and platforms represent the face of GIS on a truly global scale.

"Anywhere you go, if you're looking at (a) GIS, you're looking at ESRI®. They don't just 'set the tone' for the GIS industry. They are the industry."

-- Anonymous GIS Professional

In January 2008, the Tangipahoa Parish Planning Department was created as a component of the Comprehensive Plan. Its purpose was (and is) to handle the division of land and to regulate development via the application of adopted development regulations. It was noted that the nature of Planning operations would involve geospatial and mapping components, and in August 2008, GIS was added to the nascent Planning team.

In the years that followed, an extensive repository of data and maps was compiled, as requirements flowed in from both within and outside the department. During these years, GIS was steadily becoming established as an essential component of parish operations.

Then in 2016, a new component was added -- the ability to host layered maps of parish data online, freely accessible to the public, 24-7-365. ESRI® ArcGIS Online was secured as the hosting platform, and a bold new step was taken, named for an amalgam of 'Tangi' and GIS -- TanGIS.

From its inception, TanGIS has functioned as a one-stop shop for an ensemble of parish map data of everyday use to local officials, local businesses and organizations, and the public.

The original format for TanGIS (1.0) was based on a single map application in which all of the available data layers were hosted together, and could be turned on or off as required. It is still available today, in the form of TanGIS Classic.

However by 2019, a new approach was taken in which the layers were hosted to separate applications, depending on their source or role. These 'thematic' maps would serve to reduce the clutter of TanGIS 1.0, while providing users with a more direct route to the specific data they wish to see. In TanGIS 2.0, this approach has been realized to great effect, with selectable map options dedicated to property ownership, flood zones, council districts, and much more.

This is a sample of the TanGIS Property Boundaries application for parcels and lots.

Note that the primary data displayed here are parcels and lots, as that is the focus of the application. Highways and streets (as well as public land survey sections in the public-facing version) are included as supplemental data.

Click on a parcel to select it. Upon selection, a pop-up will appear displaying basic data applicable to the parcel, including a link to its current record with the Office of the Assessor. Click on the Parish Seal in the pop-up to open the assessment record in a new browser tab.

This is a sample of the TanGIS Voting Precincts application for elections and polling.

Again, note that the primary data displayed here are the precinct boundaries, as that is the focus of the application. Highways and streets (as well as parcels) are included to assist the voter with identifying their precinct and polling location.

Click on a precinct to select it. Upon selection, a pop-up will appear displaying data applicable to the precinct, including the name and address of its current polling location. If a parcel is selected, click on '1 of 2', select Voting Precincts from the list, and the selection and pop-up will flip to the precinct in which the parcel is located.

As all of us know, the early 2020s brought many changes to the world in which we live, both expected and unforeseen. For the direction of GIS in Tangipahoa Parish, this was no exception.

Following the success of TanGIS, it was clear that the next great step for GIS in the Parish would focus on extending the reach and broadening the scope of our data gathering capabilities. Up to this point, many types of data had always been widely available, but were always 'sourced' from other organizations, and never made in 'real-time'. In addition, these data came to represent only a fraction of what was thought possible. What if Public Works data could be gathered live in the field, for example -- by our own personnel? And how could those efforts be directed to improving quality-of-life for our residents in clear, tangible ways?

Thus the next great step was taking shape.

The next great step soon came to fruition, in the form of field data collection applications.

At the direction of the Public Works Department and the Parish Engineer, a review was initiated of cross drains and culverts throughout the Parish. This was for the purpose of documenting their condition and maintenance status, but there was more. Up to this point, whatever data that existed pertaining to culverts was either on paper or in spreadsheets, and was years old in some cases. In 2022, GIS was set to change that.

This map is the culmination of that achievement. Using a carefully crafted network of online surveys and GPS-linked applications, the first-ever field data collection of culverts was accomplished throughout Tangipahoa Parish.

Each point in the map represents the location of a culvert surveyed. Click on a point to select it. Upon selection, a pop-up will appear displaying the data collected for each culvert, as well as -- another first -- digital photos taken during the collection, visually documenting its condition.

Use the +/- buttons to zoom the map in/out to access points that appear to 'crowd' at, or lie outside, the default (or home) map extent.

2023 has witnessed a steady stream of innovation for GIS in Tangipahoa Parish, moving things forward at an unprecedented pace. One such example is displayed in this map.

At first glance, it resembles the 2022 culvert data collection. Which it is -- with one important distinction. Now, with just minutes of instruction, departments throughout the Parish may use an editor application (such as this one) to manage their own data, to their specific requirements.

This application, another first for the Parish, was developed at the request of the Parish Engineer. Using the 2022 culvert data collection as a baseline, it enables the Public Works staff to enter updates to the data (and even new data) as required. In this case, we see culverts that have been replaced, as well as those that have remained current since, the 2022 collection.

This is an ongoing effort, now and for the future, empowering the Public Works staff to maintain a purely digital maintenance history for every culvert in the Parish, with a minimum of effort. And as stated above, this application is simple to duplicate and customize, for departments and data requirements throughout the organization.

Another innovation for GIS in 2023 came from an entirely new direction -- ArcGIS Dashboards.

As defined by ESRI®, a dashboard enables users to convey information by presenting location-based analytics using intuitive and interactive data visualizations, all on a single screen. They contain various 'elements' including tabular or numeric data, charts and graphs, maps, and even camera feeds. They are used for making decisions, visualizing trends, monitoring real-time status, and informing communities. Customized for specific audiences, they provide the ability to quickly 'slice' through the data and get the answers those audiences need -- sometimes in critical or emergency situations.

Such as in this dashboard, which monitors occupancy and availability levels at each of the Parish's 13 designated shelter locations. During activations of the Tangipahoa Parish EOC, local officials would consult this dashboard for the latest shelter status, in order to determine if additional shelters should be opened or closed. That information would then be conveyed from local officials to the public via local news media.

Click the left/right arrows atop each of the four gauge and indicator elements to scroll through a 'mock' status for each shelter, using the Index and Shelter field values from the table as a guide. Make sure that the indices of all four elements are the same for each shelter viewed.

Our latest innovation for 2023, made just prior to the November publication of this story, is the Tangipahoa Parish Broadband Access Survey.

This survey represents a significant milestone for GIS in Tangipahoa Parish. First, it is the first local example of GIS utilizing direct public participation in the creation of data. Second, it is the first local example of innovation driving innovation. As part of the Parish's Broadband Initiative, the results of this survey will be used to guide technological investment aimed at making broadband Internet access more suitable and available to a larger segment of the residents and businesses of Tangipahoa Parish.

Note -- If you have Internet access at your home or business in Tangipahoa Parish, are viewing this story from a device on that connection, and wish to complete this survey, you may do so from this slide. We appreciate your time and attention, and your responses will help us work to improve this important quality-of-life issue.

This dashboard was developed in tandem with, and tracks the results of, the Broadband Access Survey. Note that it consists entirely of indicator elements which track incoming survey results by provider, provider type, and whether or not the respondent is satisfied with their Internet speed.

As stated in the survey slide, this data will be used by local officials and advocates to encourage investment in technologies for those areas of the Parish either lacking access to broadband Internet, or in areas where access is present but speeds are insufficient to meet the needs of local residents and businesses.

Note -- If you completed and submitted the survey from the previous slide, the indicators in this dashboard should reflect your responses. It may be necessary to refresh your browser and return to this slide in order to update them.

There are limitless possibilities for GIS in Tangipahoa Parish as we look to 2024 and beyond. Each of these possibilities brings with it the promise of greater GIS integration in ways that benefit everyone. Involvement is key.

We are currently exploring ideas for making several departments (such as the EOC, Public Works, and Animal Control) more GIS-centric. This will involve technologies already in use, such as dashboards and GPS, to incorporate 'real-time' elements into their operations.

Another idea is to expand public participation via surveys. For example -- when a resident reports an issue, a simple form is completed with both mapped and descriptive elements -- the 'where' and 'what' -- which is then submitted directly to local officials for action. The results are clear -- faster and wealthier exchanges of information that enhance existing operations.

As we have revealed throughout this story, the technology required to do this already exists. But by far the most valuable part involves YOU -- our residents and local businesses -- using GIS together to improve quality-of-life throughout Tangipahoa Parish. We are excited for what the future holds, and hope YOU will join us there!