Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Reveille Ltd.

A well-developed geographic information system (GIS) is worth a million words. It's worth a lot especially when a lack of communication has been any community's greatest antagonist. GIS is simply a technology that allows for information and data to become visual. Today, a growing world of data is available to citizens. And because often this data is free, preparing a GIS can be inexpensive depending upon your direct needs. The results, however, are priceless.

GIS at Reveille Ltd. Take for instance how the City of Ontario, California used a geographic information system to develop methods by which to collect revenue. Through using GIS and cross-referencing a variety of auditor permit and parcel data, the city of Ontario was able to locate commercial ventures operating without permits. In the end, over $115,000 was collected. In addition to collecting revenue, the city currently uses an interactive GIS via the internet to promote economic development. Miles away, potential clients can search the city for available sites for possible development without having to pick up the phone.

For rural communities and townships heavily reliant upon agriculture, using a GIS to highlight development patterns and highlight prime farmland has done wonders. Not only can lot splits be visualized, but when overlaid with soils, the GIS can help public officials ascertain which areas are better to develop or preserve. Projects handled by Reveille can range anywhere from the "scratch" development of a GIS for any size political subdivision, to the revitalization and manipulation of your existing GIS and data.