gis
What is GIS?
Understanding what GIS does is important to understanding why it is such a useful tool for community development. Organizations are continually seeking new ways to help communities improve their quality of life. GIS is an integral instrument in achieving effective results. GIS is a powerful set of tools used for collecting, storing, retrieving, transforming, analyzing and displaying data from the real world. GIS tools include data, people and technology.
Much like a database program, GIS also includes geography. By incorporating geography, GIS is able to combine and analyze multiple types of data and demographic statistics and depict the results on neighborhood maps. These data sets could have nothing in common except that they refer to a place on earth and can be combined and analyzed. GIS makes it possible to place data onto a map and then query, sort and categorize the data to understand a community.
There are several reasons why GIS is a useful tool for community development:
- While a table or graph may be neatly presented, it is hard to develop a mental image of the neighborhood through a list of numbers. The map on the other hand is interpretable in seconds and not only gives information about a specific neighborhood but also illustrates the surrounding neighborhood. Because data presented in a map format is easier to understand, it is also easier to communicate with others. This is particularly important when trying to work with a diverse group of people such as representatives from government, agency staffs, community leaders and community residents, to identify and achieve shared goals. Barriers, such as language, educational, social and cultural, can be overcome with this visual approach. Most can understand data on a map, thereby making it easier for everyone to understand the data and include a diverse population into the community planning process.
- Although GIS is used to show the “what” and “where”, it can be used for the “why”. When problem solving, the most important question is “why”. Why is crime higher in one area than another, why do some neighborhoods decline and others do not? When "why" can be answered then meaningful discussions and solutions can be addressed. Being able to see patterns and relationships of data rather than simply looking at a table or graph facilitates the understanding of causes and helps lay foundations for solutions. It is important to note that this type of analysis would not be possible without the use of GIS.
Below are some of the ways GIS can be used by LISC partners interested in community development:
- Documenting, Monitoring, and Analyzing Neighborhood Change - by identifying vacant land, understanding current neighborhood conditions, connecting crime to blight, etc.
- Identifying Development Opportunities - by determining market share for commercial real estate ventures, promoting zoning changes, and identifying potential properties;
- Expanding Community Development Support Systems - by displaying neighborhood boundaries, catalyzing new partnerships, obtaining previously unavailable data;
- Organizing Advocacy for Policy Change - by educating neighborhood residents on current conditions, addressing property speculation and turnover, connecting CDCs to elected officials;
Data Available
Most of our collected data has focused on the Richmond Region through the Richmond Neighborhoods Indicators Project (RNIP), an initiative developed in partnership with the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Virginia Commonwealth University. However, we are steadily increasing our Data Collection to include data throughout Virginia.
To request GIS analyses and mapping, please contact our office at (804)358-7602 ext 13 or .
You may also use the online GIS Request Form.
Data held in the Virginia LISC office includes but is not limited to:
- Census/Demographic Data
- 1990 Census Information
- 2000 Census Information
- 2008 Estimates
- 2009 Estimates
- Census Blocks
- Census Block Groups
- Census Tracts
- Crime Data for the City of Richmond
- Assaults
- Burglaries
- Homicides
- Robberies
- Sex Offenses
- Thefts
- Vehicle Thefts
- Vice
- Other
- Local Jurisdiction Data (note: available data varies among Virginia jurisdictions)
- Building Footprints
- Major Places/Landmarks
- Neighborhood Boundaries
- Parcel Addresses
- Parcel Assessments
- Parcel Lines
- Parks & Recreation Areas
- Political Subdivisions
- Roadways
- School Districts
- School Locations
- Water Features
- Zip Codes
- Zoning
- Other (upon request)
Note: Available data will vary among Virginia jurisdictions; however we maintain contacts with a network of data and GIS professionals throughout Virginia allowing us to fulfill custom requests involving data not listed.