The Times-Journal

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 | DeKalb County's Oldest Newspaper

Classifieds | Jobs | Homes | Autos

New system to provide map of DeKalb

By Kelly Townsend
The Times-Journal

Published July 17, 2007

Virtual Alabama has found a home in DeKalb County, but DeKalb County EMA director Susan Battles said the mapping system is still in the early stages.

“It is here. I already have it on my computer, but we haven’t started using it yet,” Battles said. “It will be up to the department heads if they want to use it.”

Battles said the county is using Pictometry Visual Intelligence, which is similar to Virtual Alabama.

Pictometry, an advanced imaging system, helps a 911 operator pinpoint the location of a distressed caller who doesn’t know the exact address.

The system is not available for public use, Battles said.

Virtual Alabama contains geographic information from counties and state agencies, such as maps from revenue departments, aerial photographs and other material that allows them to create a visual image of the area in which they are headed.

“This system, however, has a multitude of uses for emergency response planning, roadbuilding, firefighting and other situations that require government response,” Battles said.

The Alabama Department of Homeland Security created the system.

Forty-one of the state’s 67 counties already have Virtual Alabama.

DHS Director Jim Walker said the project began a year ago at Gov. Bob Riley’s request and uses Google Earth technology. He said DHS paid $150,000 for the product license.

County revenue departments already have aerial maps of lands and by using those maps the state avoided the high cost of paying to have it done, Walker said.

Virtual Alabama is available to any agency with a dot-gov Internet address. At least 1,000 registered users have signed up for it. Users can view evacuation routes, flood zones, school districts and watersheds.

The software required to view the program is available free to counties and municipalities, DHS officials said.

If an aircraft flies over a disaster area with a camera, the photo can quickly be downloaded onto Virtual Alabama. With revenue maps online, officials can estimate the property losses in short order.

That happened after the Enterprise tornado, with the Civil Air Patrol’s photo assistance.

“When FEMA comes in, you’ve already got the tax data loaded to jump-start the recovery,” Walker said.

Using Google Earth technology, DHS can assemble, display, evaluate and share the critical geospatial information statewide.

Walker said law enforcement agencies also could use it to track sex offenders or plan tactical operations, such as meth lab raids.

Firefighters could call up floor plans for schools and take a look at building contents.

“All that information as firefighters are going into a scene would benefit you,” Walker said.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report

Share | Save | Mail | Print

Photo Reprints
Purchase select photographs from local games and events. New from The Times-Journal and The Times-Journal.

Business Card Directory

Your Fort Payne and DeKalb County reference guide, featuring accounting, automotive, banks, insurance, restaurants and much more!

Subscription Services: Circulation | Home Delivery | Back Issues | Vacation Stops | Newspapers In Education

The Fort Payne Times-Journal | Publisher: J.D. Davidson

811 Greenhill Blvd.NW, Fort Payne, Alabama 35967 | Tel: 256-845-2550 | Email