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Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting
What is GIS?
GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems. In technical terms a GIS is a computer based system for integrating data, either in tabular or geographic formats, from other computer systems with the output being a report, a map or a page on the World Wide Web. In other words, a GIS is a means of taking computer information and making it understandable in a "picture." It has been said that 90% of what a local government does is land (geography) related. Paving a street, getting a building permit, identifying a utility meter, responding to a traffic accident, zoning a property or finding the park nearest your home are all related to locations in and around our community. GIS is tool to analyze and present all types of data in an easy to understand format.
What is the best way to search for an address?
If you know the "Street Number" simply enter it and only it. Let the computer do the rest of the work. A list of all the addresses with that street number will be presented from a list that the user can choose from.
Using the same idea, if you enter a "Street" a list of all the addresses on that street will be presented. Again, a list will be presented from which you may choose the specific address you are interested in.
I have a Loveland address by my address can't be found. Why?
There are a number of reasons why this may be. First, only addresses in the City's mainframe computer can be searched. The mainframe computer only contains addresses where one of the City's utilities (such as water, sewer, storm water,) are served or where the City of Loveland collects trash or where a building permit was issued by the City of Loveland. Unless the City of Loveland has provided you with one of these services, your address will not show up. This causes confusion because rural areas use the Loveland post offices and, therefore, have a "Loveland, CO" address. These rural addresses are not searchable.
The aerial images seem fairly detailed. What can you see using them?
The color aerial images are made from aerial photographs taken in the summer of 2006. They are used for a variety of purposes in the City of Loveland for planning and maintenance purposes. As such one can generally see streets, sidewalks and building roof tops but not in sharp detail. The more appropriate question might be what can't I see? For example, you can not read license plates or distinguish an individual or determine plant types in someone's backyard.