RSS Feed

Email Alerts

Facebook

County leaders consider ‘visual info system’

Posted by

Margie Richards

in Top Stories

Saturday, July 23. 2011

Comments (18)

Madison County commissioners are considering the purchase of a “high-tech visual information system” that could provide county departments with detailed visual and topographical information for virtually every square foot of the county.

Gary Steele of “Pictometry” aerial mapping and photography met with commissioners July 8 to go over the details of the system, which carries a price tag of approximately $30,000.

Chairman Anthony Dove and commissioners Mike Youngblood, Pete Bond and Stanley Thomas, along with tax appraiser chief Robin Baker were on hand for the presentation.

Steele said the system provides “accurate, oblique imagery” of areas their company flies over.

“It allows you to take a virtual walk around the county,” Steele said, adding that the software can be used to measure the height of a tree or building, the size of a body of water, and other such detailed information.

“This is some of the same technology used in guidance technology such as cruise missles,” he said. “….We can pretty much ‘mow the lawn’ up to a mile outside the county.”

Commissioners were told the software could be used not only for tax appraisal purposes, requiring fewer on-site inspections of property, but also integrated into emergency and public safety services for use by law enforcement, 9-1-1, EMS and fire departments.

“For example, firefighters could know the height of a building before they ever arrive,” Steele said.

Trackbacks

Trackback specific URI for this entry

No Trackbacks

Comments

Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

#1 Anonymous on 07/23/11 at 12:51 PM [Reply]

This already exists. It's called Google Earth. And it's free.

#1.1 E.J. on 07/24/11 at 01:11 PM [Reply]

How does this system differ from Google Earth? I use Google Earth all the time to find where I need to go and to determine the orientation and overall shape of the buildings in Atlanta that I work with as well as their relation to other buildings. Does this system show more detail? If so, what about privacy issues? One of the early satellite photos on Google Earth of my former house showed me sunbathing on my very private back deck. At least I was fuzzy close up. They nixed the street-level views due to privacy issues, although they were amazingly useful.

As for the fire department, there's no reason why the plans for every permitted structure cannot be on electronic file so that an emergency vehicle's on-board computer can bring it up. On the way, they can figure out where the building is (key plan) in relation to the surrounding areas, where to get in, what the interior looks like to know how to pull the hoses, the type of structure and its height, the contents (storage facilities)to determine water or foam or hazard, where a sprinkler system valve is located and many other details helpful to the crew's safety and efficiency. This wouldn't cost very much.

#2 Anonymous on 07/23/11 at 02:07 PM [Reply]

You have got to be dreaming if you think Pethel would even consider something like this. He does not even want the law enforcement to drive safe cars.

#2.1 Retd on 07/24/11 at 05:20 PM [Reply]

This doesn't help law enforcement. It gives a false sense of security. Very false. There was a story about police that used a system like this to go to a hostage situation. They formed their plan based on those pictures. Problem? The pictures were several months old and didn't show a little shed. Turns out suspect was in the shed and shot 2 of the officers.

No, we don't need this. Doesn't help. Hurts.

And exactly how many big hostage standoffs and fires do we have here? Riiiiiiiiiight. This might be useful in a big city. Useless here. Beyond useless. Like someone said, use Google Earth for free or the hi-res version is cheap.

Besides, in the very low percentage chance that you have something like a hostage standoff or major violent drug raid in Madison Co. with law enforcement lives on the line, you'll be calling in G.B.I. surveillance helicopters anyway to get REAL info. in REAL time, not some outdated aerial pictures on the internet.

Please tell me our commissioners didn't get taken in by this clown's company's ridiculous "scary tactic" sales pitch.

#3 Redneck on 07/23/11 at 08:08 PM [Reply]

that may help animal control or zoning control or non permitted buildings to be found out about. seems may help county employees do the job better. Help me when I complain about something to be able to show to Mr. Dove something. Hey can look at conservation parcels / trailer parks / number of supposably homes on a piece or property and make proper calls. I VOTE YES on this one.

#3.1 MC on 07/25/11 at 11:05 AM [Reply]

Seems animal control and all just sorty exist out here in MC. Time to look at all county departments and see what salary is and maybe do not need as many. Not sure heard any type of recent animal pre problem on problem that exists but not to point of true harm to animals or people. Road side signs do they violate law as they are distracting. What about water run off issues such as court case on buidling proper bridge on Sam Bruce Rd did zoning or erosion control get involved. Sinking MC building and issue and why has this not been investigated further. Taxpayers need service for their tax dollar. Time to stop paying others who do less than we do but get more in my view.

#3.2 matt on 07/29/11 at 02:55 PM [Reply]

Why don't you just foot the bill and have them add a camera in your house so they can see anything they can tax/fine you for.Maybe you should go by Madison County dumb*%%

#3.2.1 MC anon on 07/30/11 at 09:32 AM [Reply]

Matt : if you have cell phone they can track you and can often even get a recording of your phone chats if really needed. Use credit or debit card and same tracking and since you do have computer your are tracked with cookies even if you have spy or cookie ware you can be tracked. I am ALSO tired of paying for others to get the SAME overall life style I have and do not work as hard. I am tired of paying for the CONS in jail and they should be made to work as in the fields of South Georgia. I can go on and on. So Matt they know who and where you are now.

#4 Bulldog on 07/23/11 at 08:59 PM [Reply]

The Tax assessors office wants it so they don't have to leave the office to do their jobs. What am I saying, they don't leave their office now!! Too lazy to get the job done right. They want the taxpayers to pay for this system so they can draw their checks and do nothing. If the county buys this system there should be at least one person let go in the assessors office to offset the cost. Really, they won't need as much staff. Don't go outside to do your business the camera might catch you and you would be taxed for it. :)

#4.1 Redneck bulldog on 07/25/11 at 08:40 AM [Reply]

Posting is not my favorite thing to do. If BOA agents not getting outside to look at parcels that is WRONG. I am HEARING more and more about conservation tax parcels and with chatter like this I now think something to this issue. I have question for BOA or someone else : how many of this tax conservation parcels exist ? Has the BOA checked each one out. Would someone with knowledge give us idea please on my 2 questions.

Pethel : will vote against it as people can monitor Sam Bruce Rd and watch our tax dollars that he costs the citizens of MC go to waste. I vote on this that the BOC just abandon the road and bridge and that way our tax dollars which I hear are declining can be spent elsewhere.

Go DAWGS and beat the georgia tech crackers.

#4.1.1 Eat Ga Dawgs : Ga Tech MC on 07/26/11 at 08:07 AM [Reply]

Good ole Ga Dawd bet posting not your favorite thing. Pop tops on liquids that help calm you probably your favorite.

You mention that good ole conservation tax thingie. Well guess what : it is wealth re-distribution by our own MC people and not the Feds. Yep right here in MC we have those. Another example of wealth re-distribution is that Sam Bruce thing. Bridges needed else where in county. But no lets fix it up for the FEW and that costs us all and that is wealth re-distribution. Problem is MC not that rich of a county and the joke of taxing the so 2000 onward "new people with money" is they are no longer coming and some of those are not rich. If this tax problem not addressed and our countries tax problems not addressed there will be more pain such as no increase in moniew. Gas at 6 bucks a gallon. Farm subsidies will go away. Yes a rant but peaceful rant.

#4.1.1.1 Reader on 07/27/11 at 12:57 PM [Reply]

You are correct.

#4.1.1.1.1 Redneck on 07/28/11 at 03:28 PM [Reply]

Run this dude/dudette for Chairman BOC. Bet they would like $80,000+ job year. Just hope not Cartwright posting as Ga Techie

#5 abby on 07/24/11 at 06:01 AM [Reply]

“For example, firefighters could know the height of a building before they ever arrive,” Steele said.

....and we REALLY need this type of information here????

#6 Sky Pilot on 07/24/11 at 07:47 PM [Reply]

"A fool and his money is easily parted", I don't need my lawn mowed by the county, wasn't aware that the county had cruise missles, and can't really believe that property apprasials would be more accurate than they are now. I also don't believe brick homes need vinyl siding. If the county has an extra $30,000, spend it on adult education.

#6.1 Johnnie Horne on 11/29/11 at 04:21 PM [Reply]

If you decide to run for public office & you should, we would vote for you. We laughed so hard at your intelligent observation. Thanks for getting it out there.

#7 CountyEmployee on 07/25/11 at 12:01 PM [Reply]

I think this would be county money well spent. After all, we have so many skyscrapers in Madison County, and I can think of numerous instances when the ability to launch missiles with accuracy would come in really handy, especially for public safety personnel.

Forget employee raises . . . . . let's buy this instead!!!

#7.1 RD on 07/28/11 at 08:17 AM [Reply]

Doubt first you are a county employee to "CountyEmployee". Most GOVT employed now aware how lucky they are to have a job. If you take 49 mil people on medicare / GOVT employees and that includes school teachers more than HALF of our population now on the backs of others. Put in illegal's and ONE begins to see the problem. If this system could be used to monitor roads live time which I do not think it can truly do or if used to check out land issues such as that farm tax thing people are talking about and want fixed or used to see where tires dumped in MC then maybe worthwhile. I say get the money by getting back taxes and those off my dime who taking it and do not need it nor qualify for it.

Add Comment

Name
Email
Homepage
In reply to
Comment: E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.

Enter the string from the spam-prevention image above:
Phone*

What is four plus one?
: Remember Information? Subscribe to this entry
: Submitted comments will be subject to moderation before being displayed.

Community

Madison Community

County leaders consider ‘visual info system’

MadisonJournalTODAY

County leaders consider ‘visual info system’

Recent Stories

Recent Comments

Sister Sites

Archives

Community

Keyword Tags