1. The original scanned tax map
2. The resulting coverages after conversion. Note: This is a raster image of a vector coverage
3. The resulting coverages overlayed on the original scanned image
AML Program for the Digital Conversion of Tax Parcel Maps Developed by the Center for Applied Studies of the Environment (CAPSE) in conjunction with the New York Office of Real Property Services (ORPS) The Center for the Applied Studies of the Environment (CAPSE) has created a program to convert the tax parcels maps of New York State counties from their present mylar hard copy format to a digital format. This project was undertaken as a component of the New York City filtration avoidance initiative. The program was developed using Arc Info 7.0.2 Arc Macro Language (AML), ArcTools and the Land Record Module, all running on a Sun Solaris platform.
The conversion process entails the following steps:
All processes in the procedure have an associated graphical user interface menu system to enable users to work with the program with ease and efficiency. The program allows for the capture of all map features on the original tax maps. The digital maps created using the program meet all state regulations regarding the standards, tolerances and required feature display for state tax maps. The program creates 8 separate coverage layers which are brought together within a map composition. These layers are, Tics, Parcels, Hydro, Cartographic Elements, Annotation Layers, Misc. Transport, and Index coverages.
Routines have been developed and integrate into the program utilities which use the Regions function of ArcInfo to manage the creation and display of special districts represented on the tax map sheets. This AML program is designed to capture 11 different regions. These are: Parcels, Blocks, Sewers, Lighting, Schools, Water, Fire, Right of Way, Great Lots, Town Section, and Agricultural Special District Areas. Map sections within towns are edgematched together applying tolerance values developed by the New York State Office of Real Property Services. Completed maps can be plotted out as individual sections or groups of sections.
The program is comprised of 22 sub programs and routines, approximately a third of which are modifications of AML programs found in the Arctools and Land Record modules. The other two thirds of the program are original subprograms developed by CAPSE. This conversion program can be easily adapted to any county in the country with a minimum amount of programming.
Below are three sample images from the conversion process:
1. The original scanned tax map
2. The resulting coverages after conversion. Note: This is a raster image of a vector coverage
3. The resulting coverages overlayed on the original scanned image
For more information contact Dr. Victor Goldsmith, 212-772-5450 or Doug Williamson, 212-650-3591 at the Center for Applied Studies of the Environment.
