Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1440864
10 COMMERCIAL 6.1.2022 THE Planning Authority (PA) has continued with its online mapping revolution by launch- ing its new MapServer. is online Geographic Informa- tion System (GIS) will improve the users' online interface ex- perience and bring them closer to the 'real-time' planning data and services that the Authority provides to the public. Ing. Stephen Ferrito Director for ICT, Mapping and Digital Services said "with expecta- tions of interactive mapping having changed enormous- ly over the past few years, we have continued to invest in our infrastructural software to en- sure that we increasingly inte- grate GIS into the heart of our operations. Today, we are well aware that digital maps are an important public tool, able to take the data clutter of our ur- ban areas and make them com- prehensible." "After having launched a new basemap for the Maltese Is- lands last year, our next step had to be the upgrading of our GIS. is is another important piece of the bigger picture as we keep developing Malta's Na- tional Spatial Data Infrastruc- ture. Our MapServer connects the voluminous planning data that we collect from different sources onto a map, integrating location data with all types of descriptive information." An important function that has been added to the Map- Server is the slide functionality. With a simple 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 pos- sibility of retaining personal preferences 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 MapServer again. Some of the other functions and services that have been built in include the capability of reporting an illegal develop- ment by clicking on a particu- lar site. e user will also be given the option of remaining anony- mous and of uploading photos of the alleged illegal works. Conscious that Google Maps is a prevalent navigation sys- tem, 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. rough a universal standard projection, the new Mapserv- er 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 direct- ly with our e-Applications sys- tem. is will enable users to have direct access to all plans, drawings and other documen- tation that are site specific. With our environments rapidly changing we have also started the laborious task of updating the basemap for Malta. is is being done through drones and new technological infrastruc- ture." e MapServer may be ac- cessed from the Planning Au- thority's website at www.pa.org. mt. PA continues with its online mapping revolution