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TextGIS & Mapping Basics - FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
If the following questions and/or the other sections of the GIS & Mapping website don't answer your question(s), please see the Contact page to ask a staff member.
What is GIS?
How is GIS used in Fairfax County?
How does GIS help me?
Do you sell wall maps (poster-sized) of Fairfax County?
Do you sell a street atlas for Fairfax County?
Do you have Aerial Imagery?
Do you have House Location Plats?
Do you sell the property map books and zoning map books?
Do you sell the data that is used to make your property maps?
Do you have Subdivision Plats?
Do you have maps that show contour lines?
What is GIS?
GIS stands for Geographic Information System. A GIS is a computer system - Hardware and Software - that helps analysts discover relationships between and among sets of computer-readable, geographically referenced data. These relationships are not easily seen or understood without the aid of this technology. For more details, you can read a longer explanation at GIS.com (external website).
How is GIS usedin Fairfax County?
GIS enables the County to display and analyze geographically referenced information. More than 75% of County information can be referenced geographically (e.g. street addresses, parcels). Dozens of agencies rely on this information to support their operations, create efficiencies, and allow for sophisticated analyses. Public Safety agencies can pinpoint locations of events like fires and crimes. The Department of Systems Management for Human Services uses GIS to provide housing and population forecasts used for planning by several County agencies. GIS data that the County uses for making decisions is updated, maintained, and made available as business requires, often on a daily basis.
How does GIS help me?
By making the County's maps and data accessible quickly on-line, residents and businesses have access to a wealth of information to help to better understand the County that they live and conduct business in. GIS allows decision makers and residents to visualize complex information. It helps build understanding and consensus between government and residents on issues that confront the community. GIS also makes the County Government more efficient. Improved efficiency means better services at less cost.
Do you sell wall maps (poster-sized) of Fairfax County?
Yes. As of July 1, 2009, GIS & Mapping Services has taken over responsibilities for map sales from the recently closed Maps & Publications Center. A series of large printed wall maps is available for purchase in the GIS & Mapping Services office. These maps include products created by GIS & Mapping Services in addition to those compiled by other County agencies. For a list of wall maps in the series, click on the Paper Maps page from the Off-line Products and Services section. Some wall maps are available to view and download for free in the Wall Map section of the online Map Gallery.
Do you sell a street atlas for Fairfax County?
Yes. Fairfax County coordinates the publication of a street atlas book on a yearly basis. In addition to streets and landmarks, the County supervisor district boundaries and the tax map grid have been overlaid on the map. A companion street atlas index providing address ranges and tax map numbers is available for download. See price list for details.
Do you have aerial imagery?
Yes. Our collection dates back to 1937. For more information, click on Aerial Imagery in the Off-line Products and Services section. Digital aerial imagery is also provided in several GIS applications found in the On-line Products and Services section.
Do you have House Location Plats?
No. House location plats are maintained by the Zoning Administration, located in the Herrity Building. Photocopies are available. For more information, call 703-222-1082.
Do you sell the property map books and zoning map books?
Yes. As of July 1,2009, GIS & Mapping Services has taken over responsibilities for map sales from the previous Maps & Publications Center. Whole County map books (property, zoning, soils, etc.) as well as individual map book pages ( zoning map book only) may be purchased from the GIS & Mapping Services office. See price list for details.
Please note that weekly-updated map book pages, in addition to a library of historic map book pages, are available to view and download for free in our Digital Map Viewer application found in the Online Products and Services section.
Do you sell the data that is used to make your property maps?
Yes. For more information, click on Digital Data Sales link from the Off-line Products and Services section.
Do you have Subdivision Plats?
Yes. Our partial collection is comprised of paper plats that vary in size, scale, number of pages, and condition. Available plats may be viewed in the GIS & Mapping Services office and photocopies may be purchased. See price list for details. Subdivision plats recorded after 12/31/2003 are only available through the Court Public Access Network (CPAN). All recorded subdivision plats can be accessed through CPAN. For more information, contact the Land Records department of Fairfax Circuit Court.
Do you have maps that show contour lines?
Yes. For more information, click on Maps - Contour Maps from
the Paper
Maps page. Updated contour maps are available to view and
download through our Digital
Map Viewer in the On-line Products and Services section.
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