GIS at the NPCA

GIS is the acronym for 'Geographic Information Systems', a technology that falls under the broader umbrella term or discipline of Geomatics, which also includes Remote Sensing and Surveying. In short, a GIS, in essence, is some form of digital mapping linked to a relational database documenting descriptive qualities of the features represented on the map. The advantage of a GIS compared to the conventional hardcopy map, is that the information on the digital map in the computer is dynamic and the various layers of information that compose the map can be analyzed for spatial relationships.

Geographic Information Systems is the technology used to collect, manage, and analyze spatial data, which includes both mapping and tabular data that has reference to a location on the surface of the earth.  The NPCA relies heavily on spatial data, the bulk of which is topographic, environmental or natural resources based land information, to support or directly carry out most of its day to day tasks.  GIS technology has been deployed throughout the NPCA over an ever increasing broad base of applications and many key Authority programs now depend on its support for efficient data management, mapping, and powerful analytic capabilities.

The following link will take you to NPCA’s GIS mapping which is currently hosted on-line in co-operation with the Region of Niagara:  http://navigator.yourniagara.ca/navigator/