Ever wish you had a map that highlighted hiking trails in city limits? Or want to visually see where local libraries are located?
Look no further, Indy. Meet GIS mapping — a resource used by the city, local organizations, and passionate residents to organize data about places in our community.
What is GIS?
GIS (geographic information system) is a tool for gathering, managing, and analyzing data. Maps are created through GIS software (like ArcGIS, Google Earth, and more) to analyze physical locations and organize layers of info into visualizations in the form of maps and 3D scenes. Simply put, they’re really cool virtually-layered maps.
How is it used locally?
This treasure trove is the best place to start. It features maps of everything from neighborhood organizations to fire stations to snow removal to historic election results.
Our picks
Ready to explore? Here are few GIS maps we think you’ll enjoy:
- Landmarks | Open the layers tab in the top left corner and toggle on “Landmarks” to familiarize yourself with arts, sports, and historic hotspots in your neighborhood. We especially recommend this map for Indy newcomers — but even lifelong residents may be surprised by the discovery of a nearby landmark.
- Voting Information Portal | Find out which voting district you’re in, who your elected officials are, and where you can vote during the next election cycle.
- PlanIndy | Discover all the projects the city is working on — layers include everything from bike paths to future land use to neighborhood strategies.
