Local governments are responsible for producing several different basemaps. These basemaps orient map users and provide relevant, and consistent, geographic context needed across all local government departments.  In addition, they are essential building blocks for a variety of local government desktop, mobile and web mapping applications; many of which you will find in the ArcGIS for Local Government Gallery.

Basemaps provide important background information and are typically combined with other map layers that represent operational information managed by a department and/or agency within local government. In some cases though, the basemaps themselves may serve as a finished product that can be used in a map atlas or other hardcopy product. 

General Purpose

The General Purpose Basemap provides context for a wide range of people and supports a variety of application needs. The layers in this basemap provide context for multiple workflows, such as editing data, vehicle routing,crime mapping or producing publicly-available web maps. This basemap includes structures, roads, major facilities and landmarks, water features, and boundaries.

Imagery Hybrid

The Imagery Hybrid Basemap provides high-resolution imagery as an alternative to much of the content contained in the General Purpose basemap. It supports similar workflows and provides a visual cues for staff doing their work. This basemap includes roads and labels overlaid on recent imagery to provide context for the features visible on the imagery.

Topographic

The Topographic Basemap expands upon the General Purpose basemap by providing topographic contours and other physiographic features. It emphasizes the physical geography and is widely used to support a variety of recreational, open space planning, and conservation needs. This basemap includes boundaries, water features, physiographic features, parks, landmarks, transportation, and structures.

Application-Specific

Application-specific basemaps are optimized for specific business needs (land records, zoning, infrastructure, election, etc.) and provide context for operational layers (crime, workorders, water networks, etc.). These basemaps are used in a variety of web maps and may be created from some, or all, of the features contained in the General Purpose, Imagery Hybrid, or Topographic basemaps.

The ArcGIS for Local Government basemaps template will help you publish the following high-quality basemaps using your authoritative content:

  • General Purpose
  • Imagery Hybrid Reference Overlay
  • Topographic
  • Parcel Public Access
  • Public Safety
  • Mobile Day/Night
  • Zoning
  • Current/Future Land Use

All of the Local Government basemaps use a single information model called Local Government.gdb. The Local Government Information Model at ArcGIS 10 supports the basemaps referenced above and a series of maps and apps used by local governments. Furthermore, it demonstrates how ArcGIS can be configured to support specific business needs in your organization. In doing so, it incorporates specific application requirements and the cartographic design elements necessary to produce rich, multi-scale basemaps and operational layers. You can download the information model from ArcGIS.com and migrate your content into this geodatabase design. When you do, you can quickly take advantage of the maps and apps published on the Local Government Resource Center.

 

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