The LINK-GIS partnership signed contracts recently with Pictometry International Corp. for new aerial images of Campbell and Kenton Counties. When uploaded into its system, these new digital images will provide jurisdictions in both counties with two ways to view their territories—the traditional bird’s-eye view and now a 3D view.
Pictometry captures high-resolution images obliquely—or from an angle—allowing users such as emergency services personnel, property assessors, and zoning officials to see land features and structures clearly and in their entirety.
In making its decision, the LINK-GIS partnership weighed the benefits of the new images to local government officials as they pursue their responsibilities.
“These new images will be really helpful for fire fighters and police responding to calls,” said Trisha Brush, GISP, NKAPC’s deputy director for GIS administration. “It gives them eyes on the ground before they even arrive at the site. This extra time can provide opportunities when seconds matter.”
Pictometry’s interactive measuring tool will also be helpful for zoning and property valuation staff. They can measure buildings from the ground up, see how many stories a house has, and measure the perimeter around a structure, for example. Traditional bird’s-eye view images don’t provide this ability.
This new 3D ability to see properties from their desk will help assessors save time and money by cutting field costs. It will also allow them to see restricted properties, verify records, and resolve claim disputes.
“The overall benefit of having Pictometry is we can help citizens of the respective counties more quickly and efficiently,” Brush said. “It gives us a 3D view of building access points in emergency situations, and puts us there without actually being there.”
Another added benefit is that Pictometry International Corp. will refly the two counties without charge in the event of a natural disaster and provide the resulting photos quickly. This can aid in faster cleanup efforts and insurance claim processing.
“We can show snapshots before and snapshots after, and see what properties were affected,” Brush said.
The new 3D aerial images will be shot in February/March. LINK-GIS partnership expects to be learning and using the data by July.
The LINK-GIS partnership is a multi-jurisdictional relationship made up of the Fiscal Courts of Kenton and Campbell Counties, the PVAs of Kenton and Campbell Counties, the Northern Kentucky Water District, SD1, and the Area Planning Commission. NKAPC is the managing partner and provides centralized support services to the others as well as assistance to the public.