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Draft 10/8/99 <br />- .Purchase/receive coverages to cover gaps (topography and <br />aerial photography from Land Records department, ground <br />water supplies and wellhead protection areas from USGS and <br />ongoing Water Resources work, existing land uses from <br />..Planning as created. <br />.Finally, there are also a number of long-term program issues that <br />.must be addressed to have a viable Comprehensive Resource <br />Database: <br />Ensuring that new .:coverages are consistent with upcoming <br />parcel data format,- to avoid previous problem of -pre-parcel <br />"shape" files that don't line up to parcel lines <br />Operating System changes: The GIS technology field is, like <br />-most computer. technology, rapidly changing. Work -is already <br />underway across County government. to convert, over. the next. <br />five years, firom the current -UNIX-language operating system to - <br />PC-based operating systems and. software (Windows NT). The <br />fashion in .which users- of GIS data interface -with the -data <br />creation and application will also need to be addressed. <br />- A number of coverages are time-related coverages (well/septic <br />systems, existing land use, etc.), and along-term .plan for <br />regular updating of this data will be needed to ensure that it is <br />not out of date. <br />D. <br />Using the Resource Database to Target Acquisition <br />Priorities <br />All of the coverages currently available or identified as needs can <br />be mapped together to show overlapping areas of resources. This <br />concept has already been utilized to a degree with the Land Use <br />Element of the Comprehensive Plan's primary and secondary <br />conservation areas, which are also-used in the voluntary Flexible <br />Development :program. However, this idea could be expanded for <br />use of newer coverages for a Comprehensive Resource map that <br />would identify the County's most important resource areas. <br />The overlay mapping technique will allow staff to evaluate potential <br />acquisitions against the full spectrum of resources present in the <br />County, .and to develop priorities- for acquisition 'efforts. The <br />comprehensive map- would also allow the Board to consider <br />multiple resource needs and goals in making acquisition decisions. <br />(insert map) <br />14 <br />