Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1440009
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 JANUARY 2022 12 COMMERCIAL THE Planning Authority (PA) has continued with its online map- ping revolution by launching its new MapServer. This online Geo- graphic Information System (GIS) will improve the users' online in- terface experience and bring them closer to the 'real-time' planning data and services that the Author- ity provides to the public. Ing. Stephen Ferrito Director for ICT, Mapping and Digital Servic- es said "with expectations of inter- active mapping having changed enormously over the past few years, we have continued to invest in our infrastructural software to ensure that we increasingly inte- grate GIS into the heart of our op- erations. Today, we are well aware that digital maps are an important public tool, able to take the da- ta clutter of our urban areas and make them comprehensible." "After having launched a new basemap for the Maltese Islands last year, our next step had to be the upgrading of our GIS. This is another important piece of the bigger picture as we keep devel- oping Malta's National Spatial Data Infrastructure. Our Map- Server connects the voluminous planning data that we collect from different sources onto a map, inte- grating location data with all types of descriptive information." An important function that has been added to the MapServer is the slide functionality. With a sim- ple click of a button and without needing to change screen, users will now be able to easily compare between aerial photos of different years or with the basemap. Users will also have the possibil- ity of retaining personal prefer- ences by logging into the system using their e-ID. A bookmarking function allows the user to save, edit, and/or remove locations that are of interest and to which the user wishes to return to. A setting has also been added, giving users direct access to the last "saved state" when loading the MapServ- er again. Some of the other functions and services that have been built in in- clude the capability of reporting an illegal development by clicking on a particular site. The user will also be given the option of remaining anonymous and of uploading photos of the al- leged illegal works. Conscious that Google Maps is a prevalent navigation system, the new system allows a user to search for a location using the Google co-ordinates. Additional drawing tools have been plugged in, enabling a user to generate site plans showing the drawn objects. Through a universal standard projection, the new Mapserver will enable any user to make use of any of the data through any other GIS system. A dual language (Maltese/English) function has been built-into the menu option. Ing. Ferrito pointed out "we are far from over. Our next goal is to link our MapServer directly with our e-Applications system. This will enable users to have direct access to all plans, drawings and other documentation that are site specific. With our environ- ments rapidly changing we have also started the laborious task of updating the basemap for Malta. This is being done through drones and new technological infrastruc- ture." The MapServer may be accessed from the Planning Authority's website at www.pa.org.mt. PA continues with its online mapping revolution