Frequently Asked Questions

A Geographic Information System (GIS) refers to a collection of geospatial capabilities and tools, such as interactive reference mapping and spatial (map-based) analysis, and all data, applications, services, and architecture that support them.

A GIS is an invaluable tool for storing, organizing, analyzing, and viewing data. It has been estimated that 80% of decisions made by local government are impacted, influenced, or constricted by geographical components.

Simply put, leveraging GIS as a tool in decision-making provides the City of Beaufort with the ability to analyze information geographically, resulting in more informed decisions, increased productivity, cost-effectiveness, and dissemination of knowledge for numerous city projects and entities.

The term "GIS data" broadly encompasses all data which has been incorporated into a geographic information system. To be incorporated into a GIS, data must have (or be able to be linked to) an associated spatial component which ties the data to a specific location in space. Examples of data which could be incorporated into a GIS include:

• aerial photography
• local parks
• flood water inundation during a hurricane
• emergency service logs

In digital mapping, a layer is like a transparent sheet over a map that shows specific types of information such as roads, parks, or political boundaries. Each layer represents a different category of data that can be displayed or hidden as needed. It's like the legend on a paper map, where each symbol or color corresponds to a different feature. 

In software like Esri, a layer refers to a defined dataset that instructs how data should appear on the map, including which features to include and how they should be styled. Essentially, layers organize and present geographic data in a clear and structured way for users to interact with and understand spatial information easily.

The City of Beaufort offers several GIS layers for public viewing through various GIS web-mapping services located on our City of Beaufort Geographical Information System (Interactive Mapping System). 

For GIS data obtained from City of Beaufort, you must have a GIS software package compatible with the data filetypes to view them. The City of Beaufort uses and recommends the use of ESRI ArcGIS products for viewing our GIS data. A free ESRI ArcGIS viewer (ArcGIS Pro for Desktop) can be downloaded directly from ESRI's site.

The City of Beaufort provides access to open GIS data through a dedicated Open Data portal on our website. This portal allows citizens to explore and download various datasets related to our City's geography and infrastructure.

• To access these datasets, visit the City of Beaufort Open Data portal [provide link if available]. Here, you can browse through available datasets and download them directly.
• If you need assistance or have specific requests regarding GIS data, you can also submit a request through our GIS Data Request Form (link). This form ensures that your request is directed to the appropriate department for processing.

For those interested in more detailed GIS data or specialized datasets not available on the Open Data portal, please contact the City of Beaufort GIS Department  directly. We are committed to providing access to information that supports transparency and community engagement. Call or email????

To obtain GIS data through any of these avenues, you are required to submit an official ‘Geospatial Data Request Form’ along with the required forms to the City of Beaufort GIS Department at GIS Data Request. If requesting a 'Geospatial Data Share Agreement', please send in the 'Geospatial Data Request Form' and indicate you are seeking a 'Geospatial Data Share Agreement' on the form. Once received, the assigned GIS staff will process your request within 5 business days. The official City of Beaufort GIS Data Request Agreement can be accessed here: Geospatial Data Request Form. LINK

All delivered GIS data will be provided in ESRI ArcGIS software compatible shapefiles compressed into a .zip folder. The shapefile package may consist of all or some of the following filetypes:

• Feature Geodatabases (ESRI)
• Shapefiles
• CAD Files
• Excel

Furthermore, all delivered imagery files will be provided in inherent GIS software compatible filetypes compressed into a .zip folder.