How was all the geographic data created?
SanGIS data was created or obtained from several sources. Some of our data is licensed; some data was created from tabular digital files; some data was digitized from paper maps; and other data was entered using coordinate geometry tools.

Who updates the SanGIS data?
Responsibility for the maintenance of the over 400 geographic data layers is distributed to City and County departments based on several factors such as who has the source documents, who has the greatest need for the data, and who is held accountable for this data as part of their city-wide or county-wide duties. Landbase (roads, lots, parcels, subdivisions, zip codes, census, Indian reservations, etc) maintenance is completed by SanGIS staff. SanGIS is also responsible for coordinating with other data maintainers to ensure currency and accuracy for all participants.

What area does SanGIS cover?
All of the SanGIS geographic data is within San Diego County only. Much of our data covers the entire County of San Diego but some only covers the area within the City of San Diego.

How big is the SanGIS database?
Altogether, the SanGIS databases require almost a terabyte of disk storage!

What is the accuracy of SanGIS data?
The accuracy of the data varies between themes and within themes depending on the source documents used to create the data. Most of the source documents used for SanGIS data was at one inch equals 200 feet or one inch equals 400 feet, making it more accurate than many other GIS data sources. In general, the SanGIS data has an overall accuracy of plus or minus 10 feet.

Can I get a map of my neighborhood from SanGIS?
Yes, we can create a map based on your specifications. Standard maps are easily produced using existing databases and off-the-shelf software. The cost is just $10 to $50. Non-standard maps are produced at time and materials.

Can I access SanGIS maps via the Internet?
Yes! Internet users are able to view, pan, zoom, and turn on and off various map features for San Diego County using our online Interactive Mapping. Our Map Library also offers a large selection of static maps produced by County and City departments.

Is the geographic data available in digital form?
Yes, use our data download page to download shape files. A map made in our office can also be saved as a jpeg, pdf or other digital format.

How can I get free access to SanGIS data?
SanGIS offers over 60 of our most popular data layers for use by the public via our Interactive Maps on this web site. We also provide a public access workstation in our lobby for access to over 400 data layers, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Data may also be downloaded for free from our website in shapefile format.

Who are the members of SanGIS?
The City of San Diego and County of San Diego are the founders and only voting members (owners) of SanGIS. Most of the other cities in San Diego County are SanGIS clients and use our landbase as the basemap for their GIS efforts.

How do the City and County of San Diego use GIS and SanGIS?
The City and County use GIS tools and SanGIS data for a wide variety of applications. Here are some examples:
• Public Safety: Crime Mapping & Analysis, Computer Aided Dispatch, Emergency Response Planning
• Planning & Development: Specific Plans, Vegetation Mapping, Zoning, Geologic Hazards, Codes Enforcement
• Facilities Management: Water and Waste Water Utilities, Street Lighting, Storm Drains, Pavement Management
• Subdivision Mapping: Basemap Maintenance, Parcel Mapping, Survey Control, Orthophotography
• Route Management: Water Meter Readers, Trash & Recycling Routes
• Decision Support & Analysis: Facility Siting, Airport Noise, Slope Analysis, Demographics, Economic Development

What GIS software does SanGIS use?
SanGIS uses GIS products by ESRI.