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GIS Public Access Using Extranel Technology Cabarrus County North Carolina 3. Description of the Program GIS began the search for a cost effective Public Access system in 1995. Expensive client licenses and hardware requirements eliminated the customized ARCINFO application. A customized Arcview solution was less expensive to implement but users were still required to purchase proprietary client software. Several Arcview applications were developed for the Land Records and Revaluation depaxhnents. We found that the Arcview applications can be a valuable tool for our trained departmental users but they are too technical for general public use. In February of 1997 we explored ESRI's Map Objects and Intemet Map Server and found it was a cost effective solution that could be implemented using our existing Internet connection. This solution does not require users to have a proprietary client software license installed on their workstation. It only requires a web browser and local access to the Governmental Center network or an Interact connection. Most users with Internet access are already familiar with the browser interface used to access the map server application. Our GIS staff immediately began plans for the project deployment. Unfortunately we could not schedule Visual Basic training until May 1997 and Map Object training until September 1997. Budgeted money for the GIS Public Access had already been carried over two fiscal years. In order to implement GIS Public Access before the end of the 1997 fiscal year, a consultant was hired to write the Map Object Visual Basic code. Ron Vincent of New World Mapping was engaged to write the Visual Basic and Map Objects code. During the week of June 16-20 1997, Ron used specifications provided by the county GIS staff to write the application. GIS staff also manipulated data GIS structures and established the data flow between the mainfxame, RS/6000, and the PC Internet Map Server. IS systems staff provided the HTML/Internet coding and design for the fmal page layout. The initial objective of the GIS Public Access was to give users the capability to select, display, and print a parcel map. During the development phase we realized much more information associated with a parcel of land could and should be displayed. Land Records and Revaluation staff helped GIS identify information commonly requested by the public. IS programming staff wrote an application to extract this information from the mainframe database. The GIS staff then used the parcel identification number to link the tabular data from the mainframe data base to the graphical tax map. WWW.CO.CABARRUS.NC.US