Cape Girardeau County expands GIS services

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI)— Cape Girardeau County is expanding its Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to help residents view all of the counties land data and improve emergency response to outer neighborhoods in the event of any emergency.

This new system is revolutionary for the future of emergency response units in the area, all while using technology many don’t realize they may already be utilizing.

“GIS shows where something physically is and lets you make real time decisions,” said Bridget Welker, the county’s new GIS director.

Welker says on important part of the new expanded GIS technology will be added information for emergency response groups and road management.

“It gives you the most up to date information in emergencies,” she said. “It’s critical to get resources and people where they need to go.”

The new department has some goals in mind for the near future of the system.

“We are wanting to integrate more for emergency preparedness,” Says Welker.  “We’re wanting to integrate more with the highway department  and really start to really branch out and really utilize the full capabilities of GIS, which up until this point, without having a dedicated department, has been kind of out of the reach.”

The county recently launched a tax sale app using GIS and plans to extend the system across more departments for the county. Making the GIS system more beneficial for everyone.

“We want to show the public the full reach of GIS,” Welker says.