PITTSBORO - Chatham County residents should find it easier to access more maps and information using the county's new Geographic Information Systems Web site. The GIS address remains the same (www.chathamgis.com), and it's also a button link under the rotating photos at www.chathamnc.org.

"While our Web address has not changed, the GIS Web site has a totally new look and offers new benefits for users," said Jeremy Poss, GIS specialist. "We were able to use free OpenSource software to build the new Web site and host our own site, which has saved the county $20,000 to $40,000 in software costs and annual fees."

The main enhancement is improved online mapping, Poss said. Users can get to the new mapping function on the main GIS Web page by using the first link under GIS Links (left-side menu) or they can click on the linked aerial map in the lower part of the center column. Users also can bookmark the following address to go directly to mapping: www.chathamgis.com/mapguide/ ChathamGISWeb/.

The site includes access to nearly 80 data layers.

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