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1. GIS stands for what?

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a technology that is used to view and analyze data from a geographic, or spatial, perspective. GIS links location to information, such as people to addresses, buildings to parcels, or streets within a network, and layers that information to give you a better understanding of how it all interrelates. You choose what layers to combine based on your purpose. Find more information on the What is GIS page.

2. What can you do with GIS?

- Map where things are
- Map quantities
- Map densities
- Find what's inside
- Find what's nearby
- Map change

You can learn more by visiting the
What You Can Do With GIS page.

3. What GIS technology does Fairfield use?

The City uses Esri's ArcGIS suite of GIS software.

The GIS is maintained by GIS staff, part of the Information Technology Division of the Finance Department. Dedicated staff include one GIS Administrator reporting to the IT Manager. Secondary GIS staff, those whose primary job function is not GIS, include 1 Wastewater GIS staffer, 2 Water GIS staffers, and 1 Public Works GIS staffer.

4. How accurate is Fairfield's GIS data?

The City's GIS data is generally between 1/100 feet to 2 feet of accuracy. Most data was created via heads-up digitization utilizing 3-inch pixel aerial photos at a scale of no less than 1 inch = 50 inches.

5. How often is the data updated?

GIS data updates are performed daily as city functions, such as water distribution, sewer collection, developmental reviews, building & zoning inspections, etc., trigger updates. It is the City's goal to keep the GIS database as close to real-time as possible.

Aerial photos were flown in 2000, 2005 and 2007. GIS staff have begun verifying all data written between 2001 and 2005 that was created from construction drawings or field data collection.

6. How is the data projected?

Fairfield's GIS data is projected utilizing the State Plane Coordinate System (1983) Ohio South projection with a Horizontal storage unit of 1 survey foot, Vertical storage unit of 1 survey foot and a storage center of 0sf, 0sf (X,Y). The geodetic datum is the North American (1983) with a reference ellipsoid of GRS80.