California planning agency experiences with automated mapping and geographic information systems

Powerful computing tools, including geographic information systems (GIS), computer-aided design (CAD), and thematic mapping packages, have been developed for producing maps and manipulating geographic information. Research has shown that a significant number of local planning agencies in California either had or were planning to implement some type of mapping system. A mail survey of Californian planning agencies shows that they use a large number of minicomputer systems and stand-alone microcomputers for mapping purposes, that a majority of the systems are some type of GIS, and that most of the thematic mapping packages are in agencies with larger systems. The major software packages being used are identified and an attempt is made to see how hardware and software configurations are changing over time. Implementation and development problems based on hardware, software, and institutional factors are also explored. -from Authors