Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Wednesday the completion of a new digital map detailing each of the state’s 75 counties.
The project was initiated by Arkansas Geographic Information Systems earlier this year. It offers updated and important information on the counties, such as roads, new developments and other infrastructure projects, through aerial images.
Hutchinson was joined for the announcement at the Madison County Courthouse in Huntsville by GIS Director Shelby Johnson.
Johnson thanked the state Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission for helping fund the project, but he did not disclose how much it cost during the livestream of the announcement posted on Facebook.
He said five aircraft began flying north-south missions across state at 19,000 feet on Jan. 23. On the aircraft were “sophisticated digitial sensors.” There were 19 flying days where the skies were clear and the aircraft captured necessary imagery. The efforts resulted in more than 16,000 frames and 125 terabytes of data.
Johnson and Hutchinson touted not only how this new map will benefit first responders but that it will also aid economic developers in site selection processes and other state agencies, such as the transportation department.
Johnson also thanked the contractor hired for the project, Sanborn Map Company Inc. of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Sign up for Daily E-news
