Community Issues Management

(1) Interactive Mapping

Over the past 12 years CARES staff have evolved its Internet mapping presence by improving functionality and expanding the suite of "out-of-the-box" tools provided by either enhancing these tools or creating unique tools (see figures 1 and 2; Table 1).

Figure I illustrates the process of selecting local, state, and national GIS layers (or maps). CIM contains over 500 national-level data layers (e.g., locations of hospitals, public schools, libraries, congressional districts, roads, socio-economic and demographic data down to the census block group level).

In addition, numerous local and state data layers are available for those regions that participate as CIM Community Partners (e.g., locations of banks, predatory lending locations, grocery stores, recreation facilities, senior centers, bus routes, colleges, universities, address vacancy rates).

Figure 1. CIM Data Warehouse - select local, state and national data to make a map.

Figure 2 illustrates an Internet mapping session where a user can overlay GIS data layers and conduct simple spatial analyses (see list of tools in Table 1). The user can turn on and off different layers, modify symbology, and label features such as the names of hospitals.

The list of tools in Table 1 depicts "out-of-the-box" tools as well as tools that CARES staff have either enhanced or created ("Unique" tools). For example, the Spatial Summary tool enables a user to determine the number of hospitals by a legislative district or organization service area. The Area Summary Tool allows a user to aggregate data such as "average household income" based on a user-defined area.

The best way to learn how to use these tools is log-on to the CIM website and experiment!

Figure 2. Interactive Mapping session with pull-down menus and toolbar.

Table 1. Interactive Mapping: Out-of-the-Box, Enhanced and Unique Tools

Change Map Display Area
Zoom in	Out-of-the-Box: Enlarge the map area either by clicking a single spot, or by dragging a box around the desired area.
Zoom out	Out-of-the-Box: Reduce the map area either by clicking a single spot, or by dragging a box. The current map will be fit to the box.
Pan	Out-of-the-Box: Re-center the map area by dragging the window.
Full Extent	Out-of-the-Box: Re-size the map to the largest possible map area.
Back	Out-of-the-Box: Return to the last map areas.
Retrieve Information
More Info	Enhanced: Return information about features in the active layer. Click a feature on the map to display information.
Query	Enhanced: Select features using conditional statements.
Select by Rectangle	Enhanced: Select features by dragging a box around the desired features.
Find	Enhanced: Select features by entering a word or phrase.
Measurement Tools
Geographic Coordinates	Unique: Retrieve XY coordinate information at the click location.
Distance	Enhanced: Calculate length information for the entered line.
Area	Unique: Calculate square unit information for the entered area.
Spatial Analysis
Buffer	Enhanced: List features within a specified distance of selected feature(s).
Area Summary	Unique: List and summarize features for the entered area.
Radius Summary	Unique: List and summarize features within a specified distance from the click location.
Spatial Summary	Unique: Use selected feature(s) from one layer to list and summarize features within another layer.
Map Display Control
Modify Map	Unique: Add or remove layers (only works with Internet Explorer).
Modify Legend	Unique: Change symbology for layers.
Transparent	Unique: Make the layer 'see-through' to view information in lower layers.
Clear Selection	Out-of-the-Box: Remove feature selections and refresh the map.
Stop	Unique: Stop retrieving map or data.
Mask Map	Unique: 'White out' areas around the desired map features.
Save Session	Unique: Save current session for future use.(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
Map Printing and Data Export
Print Map	Enhanced: Prepare a document for printing.
Extract Data	Unique: Retrieve data for download and use in a GIS.

Functionality Overview

These tools are currently available to the public and CIM Community Partners:

(1) Interactive Mapping

(2) My Folder