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- . <br /> 4 <br /> Results of Computer Mapping <br /> About two months ago staff met with representatives from <br /> Geographic Data Management, a firm specializing in computer <br /> mapping and geographic data analysis. They had heard of our <br /> JPA mapping and thought it an excellent opportunity to show <br /> the capabilities of their product. With the concurrence of <br /> the County manager we embarked upon a pilot project with them <br /> wherein maps for the Southern Triangle were computerized and <br /> plots and acreage summaries produced. <br /> • Overall, we have been quite impressed with the outputs. <br /> The quality of the computer maps is very good and they seem <br /> to be as accurate as the base maps from which they were <br /> • produced. The real advantage of the computer becomes <br /> apparent in the overlay mapping and production of acreage <br /> reports. To manually produce the Southern Triangle overlay <br /> map too in excess of three work days. Manual acreage reports <br /> have not been produced, but would require many hours with a <br /> - planimeter. The computer map and acreage reports were <br /> produced in slightity less than an hour; 47 minutes <br /> processing time and 7 minutes plotting time. To be sure, the <br /> computerized process is not without manual imput. Before the <br /> base maps of individual parameters can be entered into the <br /> computer they must first be produced by hand. However, once <br /> maps are in the computer, its benefits are readily apparent <br /> in the speed and ease of analysis and the ability to make <br /> revisions in the maps. <br /> Location Standards <br /> As a means of promoting consistency among the various <br /> JPA land use plans uniform locational standards are needed <br /> for each class of land use. Orange County took the <br /> responsibility for initial definition of these standards in <br /> the form of an issue paper. The approach was one of <br /> researching adopted land use plans (Orange County, Chapel <br /> Hill, and Carrboro) and standard planning reference sources. <br /> A preliminary draft was presented at the JPA meeting on <br /> April 5 and discussed further at the meeting on April 19. <br /> Participants were in general agreement on the proposed <br /> standards, but the need to consult some additional sources <br /> was pointed out. To promote ease of use, the suggestion of <br /> compiling the standards in a tabular format was also <br /> mentioned. Orange County and the other JPA participants are <br /> 0 crrently working toward a comprehensive one-page set of <br /> • location standards. <br />