Industrial Development Agency officials are considering how a software program that allows users to better access, manipulate and display data could fit into their plans for marketing Herkimer County.
Linda Rockwood, owner of Mohawk Valley Geographical Information Systems, presented the IDA Board of Directors with her proposal Tuesday, offering a variety of services through the upgrade in technology.
The presentation came as part of the IDA’s attempt to form a 2010 marketing plan, using the $150,000 provided by the county legislature.
John Piseck, IDA Board of Directors chairman and a county legislator, said the technology is something that potentially could benefit the IDA and county departments. The details of any possible use will be discussed in future IDA and county committee meetings, he said in a phone interview.
The primary manifold GIS software, which is being used in the city of Little Falls and in less-advanced capacities in the town of Schuyler and village of Old Forge, provides numerous ways to use data, Rockwood said in a phone interview.
The program basically allows access to “all data that’s of use,” Rockwood said. “It’s endless almost in terms of what really you can put in there.”
Rockwood explained the GIS technology for the IDA would be the best way to showcase what the county has to offer. “All our assets, natural and built,” she said.
Potential developers link to the system through the IDA Web site and can search all county data. And the information is all visual, Rockwood said.
The GIS allows users to view all forms of maps, from zoning and tax to topographical and aerial, as well as search comparisons and relationships between data.
Rockwood and Piseck declined to provide any potential cost for the county or IDA, saying details on potential uses are still in the “early stages.”
Costs for the system for individual municipalities all the way up to counties can vary, Rockwood said. There are variables, such as the number of users, amount of data and level of access that change the cost, she added.
The cost for the desktop software is $245 per license copy.
An Internet base viewer version, allowing for access to the system via online, is $2,000, and has additional costs for server use and data storage.
Herkimer, N.Y. —
