Poughkeepsie... Dutchess County Government’s continued commitment to provide innovative technology initiatives to residents and businesses, including the recent launch of Dutchess County Office of Central and Information Services’ (OCIS) new open data portal for Geographic Information System (GIS) datasets, has again earned Dutchess County national recognition. Dutchess County is ranked 5th in the nation among mid-size county governments for its use of technology in the 2022 Digital Counties Survey conducted by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo).
County Executive Molinaro said, “For two decades, Dutchess County has been recognized for its commitment to efficient, cost-effective, and innovative technology solutions to our residents and businesses. This open data portal allows users to view an extensive array of data and, if needed, download the information into a variety of formats for free. Congratulations to the team at OCIS for this much deserved recognition their continued commitment to providing top-notch technology services.”
The new GIS open data portal includes dozens of geographical datasets that are available for review and download including locations of municipal services, addresses and emergency response information, countywide election districts, as well as watersheds and drainage basins. Previously, downloads of these datasets were considered custom requests, which could include a fee based on the type of request. Now, organizations and businesses, as well as the public can easily access the County’s GIS data for a wide variety of projects, including general information as well as economic development, city planning, and many other purposes.
Downloaded datasets available for free to the public on the new GIS hub include:
The Open Data GIS hub does not include parcels or real property data as that data is maintained by the County’s Department of Finance’s Real Property Tax Division and is available to search on the Parcel Access application.
The Open Data GIS hub is the newest feature in the County’s extensive lineup of GIS applications, including:
“In our increasingly complex world, counties are using technology to pursue bold, cutting-edge approaches to serving our residents,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “From broadband accessibility to public health and safety, from transportation to community development and much more, technology plays a key role in helping our counties thrive. We applaud this year’s Digital Counties Survey winners for their leadership, innovation, and expertise in leveraging technology to achieve county goals.”
OCIS Commissioner Glenn Marchi, Ph.D., said, “The Dutchess County Office of Central and Information Services team continues to find and implement creative and innovative technology solutions for residents and businesses throughout the county. This consistent recognition is a testament to the hard work of the team at OCIS. It is an honor and a privilege to work alongside these dedicated individuals.”