The Knox County Register of Deeds Office has provided KGIS (and KNOXnetWhere) users with new "hyperlink" tools which provide access to recorded deed and plat documents. By integrating the Registers' computerized imaging system with the Knox County Property Assessor's database (hosted on KGIS), users are provided with a map-based entry point to recorded land-based  documents (from which mapped parcel boundaries are derived). For more information on how to access the new hyperlinks, click here. 

Google Maps has implemented the "Street View" capability that allows users to virtually drive the streets of Knoxville from the comfort of their personal computer...now if we could get Google to do something about those gas prices. Click here for an example image (showing KGIS's office at 606 Main Street). 

KGIS has created another map theme within its KNOXnetWhere mapping site specifically for display of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) 1:24000 scale topographic maps (also known as the 7.5-minute quadrangles). Within the theme, users will be able to display current-day KGIS features (such as parcel boundaries) on top of the USGS quads, which continue to be a great cartographic reference even though they have not been updated since the early 1990s, when the USGS 1:24000 program ended. For access to other historic USGS maps covering other areas of East Tennessee,  visit the Univ. of Tennessee Map Library's Online Topographic Resource. 

Some of TVA's 1935 Aerial Photography of the City of Knoxville has been added to the Aerial Photo Theme within KGIS's KNOXnetWhere mapping site. The source photography was scanned and rectified by the MPC to fit with the KGIS basemap. To display the photos, users will need to turn on the appropriate "Aerial Photo 1935" map layer within the Layers tab of the site. (The photos are also viewable within the newly added USGS Quads theme). For more information, click here. 

On April 1, 2008, the Knox County Property Assessor's Office became the latest department to transition its map-related workflows to KGIS's new GIS platform,  which is based upon the ESRI ArcGIS software suite. There are 187,000+ parcels of land in Knox County, and the Mapping Department of the Property Assessor is using the Sidwell Company's Parcel Builder™ software (the first organization in Tennessee to do so!) in order to manage its many land and ownership records.  This is all part of KGIS's three-year project to transition more than 29 mapping-related City and County workflows to the latest technology. 

Microsoft's Google-like map website , called Live Search Maps, has added some very detailed 3-d imagery for Knoxville, allowing users to virtually fly-around Knoxville from the air. And they've added most of the downtown buildings into their 3-d Virtual Earth models (which requires a download of their plug-in viewer). The Bird's Eye view photography was flown in Dec 2006 / Jan 2007 timeframe.

 

Regional (and statewide) aerial photography and other map-based information can now be viewed via the State of Tennessee's Enterprise GIS Portal (or TNMAP). GIS-related news, metadata and links can also be found at the site. 

KGIS welcomes its newest data sharing partner: The Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority (MKAA). The Authority owns and manages the Downtown Island Airport (DKX) here in Knoxville, along with the much larger McGhee Tyson Airport located in Blount County. The Authority plans to use the KGIS landbase data to assist with its inventory of assets and infrastructure. Welcome Aboard MKAA! 

KGIS has added its newly acquired, 1-ft.-resolution aerial ortho-photography to KNOXnetWhere?.  The photography was flown back in March 2007 as part of KGIS's landbase update project with Sanborn & Co. KGIS is scheduled to receive updates to its other landbase data (incl. building footprints, edges of pavement, hydrography, topography, etc.) in 2008 and 2009 based upon this same photography.  

KGIS, and its representative City and County mapping departments, is in the midst of a major software upgrade project, wherein we will be transitioning to new GIS software: ArcGIS from ESRI. And today, October 10th, 2007, marks a major milestone of this transistion, with the MPC Addressing Department going "live" on the new software for its address and street name assignment / map management. Read More 

A regional GIS Users Group, serving the 16-county region of the East Tenn. Development District area, has been newly formed and is scheduled to have its fourth meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 4th at 11:30 a.m. at McGhee Tyson Airport in Alcoa. The meeting is open to all who are interested in sharing information about the utilization of geo-spatial tools, data and software.  For more information about the new group, hereby known as the Geospatial-Information Network of East Tennessee (GeoNET), click here or visit the Yahoo Group page. 

The Aerial Photo Theme of KGIS KNOXnetWhere? has been updated with new 2007 photography from Pictometry, Inc. While the photography is not quite as geo-positionally accurate as KGIS’s 2003 photography, it does provide users with a more current view.

2007 KGIS Photo		Google Map Photos

 

The school zone search (under the Online Data pulldown menu above) has been updated to include both 2007 and 2008 High School Zones. Simply key in your street address, and the results will show two entries under the High School column - the first of which represents the 2007 High School zone; the second one indicating the 2008 High School Zone. To actually view the High School zones on a map, you'll want to initiate the KNOXnetWhere? interactive mapping tool, and then select one of the High Schools options from the Select a Map Theme pulldown menu. 

The new High School zones have been added to the KnoxNetWhere mapping website. To display the new school zones click on the KNOXnetWhere? link and change the theme by clicking on the dropdown box under Select a Map Theme and select "high schools & zones 2008" subtheme under the Schools Theme. The map also shows the location of the new Hardin Valley School that is scheduled for completion in 2008. 

KGIS, and its Executive Director Keith Stump, was presented with the 2007 GIS Champion Award at the recent Tennessee Geographic Information Council (TNGIC) Annual Conference in Chattanooga, TN. The award recognizes outstanding efforts at promoting the use of geographic information systems (GIS). In recognizing Keith and KGIS, it was noted that Knox was an early adopter of GIS back in the mid '80s, and that it still serves as a successful model even today. TNGIC has a membership of more than 400 members from all corners of the State.

 

KGIS.Org and its hosted websites (including KNOXnetWhere?) received a slight "power boost" this week! By replacing the previous 6-year-old servers with newer models, it is our hope that users are provided with a more responsive website. If you are aware of any site that directly links to some of the KGIS.Org Online Data tools, such as School Zone Search, or Voting Location Search, then you will want to update those links to the new, slightly adjusted URL paths. Please send feedback or any suggestions for change to kgis@kgis.org.

 

Knoxville's WBIR has produced a Google-Maps Mashup Website that shows both the current and the proposed High School Zones for Knox County. For PDF maps of the newly proposed zones, visit the Knox County Schools website. Apr. 13, 2007

 

KGIS has a new version of the IDS product. The IDS CD is a self-contained map viewing product that contains GIS viewing software and data for all Knox County. The CD contains all the basic KGIS layers including: planimetric, topographic, property, addresses, roads, zoning, political boundaries, and parcel acreage. IDS product brochure 

A new theme has been added to the KNOXnetWhere? mapping website. City Engineering maintains survey control points throughout the city which can be seen on the City's website :  http://www.ci.knoxville.tn.us/engineering/civil/surveypoints.asp.  The mapping data is hosted by KGIS.  A round disk is placed in concrete for each one of these points for surveyors to reference.  The city added over 70 new points and flagged the ones destroyed by construction or demolition.  The City maintains over 1100 active survey control points.  

 MPC & TDOT Traffic data has been updated with traffic counts for 2006 on the KNOXnetWhere Internet mapping site Traffic Counts Theme.  MPC and TDOT traffic data can be found by using the search tool Find a Traffic Count Location and entering the traffic station number. March 12, 2007  
 

The State Plane and Longitude and Latitude coordinates have been added to the status bar at the bottom of the KNOXnetWhere? map frame window. Now as you move your cursor over the map you will see Easting, Northing, Longitude (Degrees, Minute, Seconds -DMS), Latitude (DMS), and Longitude (Decimal Degrees - DD), Latitude (DD).  

For Internet Explorer Version 7 users to see the information in the status bar you will have to add www.kgis.org as a trusted site.March 7, 2007    

KGIS and the Knox County Property Assessor's Department have selected the Sidwell Company's Parcel Builder™ suite of mapping software to be part of its upgraded GIS software solution. Over the next two years, KGIS (as part of its M2E software upgrade project with CH2M Hill, Inc.) will be transitioning more than 29 mapping-related City and County workflows to a new ESRI GIS software architecture. The Sidwell Parcel Builder software will work in tandem with the ESRI software, thereby providing enhanced productivity tools to the Property Assessor's Mapping personnel, who on average commit more than 25,000 parcel and ownership transactions per year into the KGIS Property (Cadastral) database. Sidwell is an 80 year old mapping company, whose customer base is primarily in the Midwest. KGIS and Knox County will be Sidwell's first Parcel Builder customer in the state of Tennessee. March 7, 2007  

KGIS, in partnership with the Jefferson County, TN GIS Consortium Board, is pleased to announce its newest website: http://www.jeffersoncogis.org/, providing users with map and property information for all of Jefferson County, Tennessee, including the municipalities of Jefferson City, Dandridge, Baneberry, New Market and White Pine. Links to GIS websites for other counties in the greater Knoxville area can be found here. Feb. 6, 2007

 

Parcel number text, land hooks, and property dimensions are now viewable within the Base Theme of the KNOXnetWhere? interactive mapping site. When the user "zooms in" to a subdivision for instance, the parcel number and land hook features automatically display on the map. If the user continues to "zoom in" more closely to a particular parcel,  the property line dimensions then become visible.  Jan. 17, 2007 

The 2007 Tennessee Geographic Information Council (TNGIC) Annual Conference, scheduled for April 17th-18th in the Chattanooga Convention Center, promises record high attendance, with over 400 expected attendees and 40+ vendors. Two keynotes this year will focus on GIS's role in hydrography/water modeling and E-commerce's increasing use of GIS. Check out the Conference webpage and make reservations now. (Additional Training opportunities also available: one on Mobile GIS Fundamentals and the other on ESRI's ArcGIS Server product)   Dec. 21, 2006 

MPC & TDOT Traffic data has been added to the kgis.org KNOXnetWhere Internet mapping site Traffic Counts Theme.  MPC and TDOT data has been added to the Traffic Counts Theme and is searchable by clicking on the Find a Traffic Count Location and entering the traffic station number.  Monday, May 15, 2006 

KGIS has added a new Watersheds theme to the kgis.org KNOXnetWhere Inter-net mapping site. The user can view the new theme by selecting the Watersheds from the themes list. When the map displays zoom in to see the different Watersheds for Knox County. Zoom into the Beaver Creek watershed and the Beaver creek sub-basins will display. Click on the Find a Watershed search tool, select a watershed from the drop down list and the watershed will be highlighted and information about the watershed will be displayed.  Thursday, June 15, 2006 

KGIS has contracted with Sanborn, Inc. to acquire County-wide digital aerial photography every 3 years, and to completely update KGIS's planimetric / topographic data over a 6 year period. The project resumes KGIS's annual landbase map update program, which began back in 1990, but was temporarily halted in 2003 in order to re-map the entire County. To find out more about our landbase update program, contact KGIS's Chad Scheidecker.Jan. 11, 2007

 

The recommended alternative for the SR-475 Knoxville Regional Parkway alignment that the Regional Parkway Design Resource Team will forward to TDOT can be seen on the KGIS.org website in the BASE Theme. The proposed Knoxville Parkway would connect I-40/I-75 southwest of Knoxville, Tennessee to I-75 north of Knoxville.
The footprint of the alignment includes the proposed right-of-way for the Parkway as recommended by the Knoxville Parkway Design Resource Team and accomodates cut and fill and interchanges at I-40/75, Pellissippi Parkway, Clinton Highway, and I-75.
For additional information please visit www.knoxvilleparkway.com, call the Beltway inquiry/hotline at (888) 447-7475 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday, or send an email to info@knoxbeltway.com. Inquires can also be addressed to the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (865) 215-2500 or www.knoxtrans.org

 

Property, Address and Aerial Photography for Sevier County is now accessible via a new interactive mapping website being hosted by KGIS. The website, which is still being "beta-tested", will be updated once a month from a snapshot of the property and address information provided by the Sevier County Property Assessor and E911. To visit the website, go to www.kgis.org/sevierco. Sept. 20, 2006

 

A new FEMA Flood Areas Theme has been added to KGIS's KNOXnetWhere? interactive mapping environment. The maps are based upon the most recent update of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) by FEMA. For further information about the official maps, contact the Aug. 29, 2006

 read more ...

GIS data is now available for all of Jefferson County, including parcels and aerial photography, as part of the Jefferson County GIS Consortium (which is made up of eleven different partners, including KUB).While the data is not available for viewing via KGIS's KNOXnetWhere, map products and digital data licenses can be obtained by contacting the Jefferson County GIS's Data Manager, Adam Newcomb, with the Appalachian Electric Cooperative. Adam can be reached at 865-475-2032. July 26, 2006

 

The list of KGIS partners has now grown by two more!  West Knox Utility District (WKUD), which provides water and wastewater services to the Northwest areas of Knox County (and a small portion of Anderson County) and Knox-Chapman Utility District, which serves the area south of the Tennessee River (including portions of Sevier and Blount counties), both signed data sharing agreements with KGIS. Other KGIS data sharing partners include:

• HallsDale Powell Utility District
• First Utility District
• Lenoir City Utility District
• University of Tennessee
• Town of Farragut                                             July 13, 2006.

 

KGIS has added a new theme MPC Existing Land Use to the kgis.net KNOXnetWhere Inter-net mapping site. The user can view the new theme by selecting the MPC Existing Land Use theme from the themes list. When the map displays zoom in to see the different Land Uses for Knox County. Click on the Legend button to display the legend for the land use. Tuesday, June 13, 2006 

The Shaded Relief raster image has been added to the kgis.org KNOXnetWhere Internet mapping site (as a separate LandForms Theme).  The KGIS generated raster image's color scheme highlights the various levels of elevation in Knox County. As the user zooms in the place names display for different land features such as streams, summits, ridges, etc. The KGIS generated raster image color scheme highlights the various levels of elevation in Knox County. Friday, May 12, 2006 

KGIS has a new version of the IDS product. The IDS CD is a self-contained map viewing product that contains GIS viewing software and data for all Knox County. The CD contains all the basic KGIS layers including: planimetric, topographic, property, addresses, roads, zoning, political boundaries, and parcel acreage. For more information about IDS click Digital Products.